Hundreds of schools to shut Monday as student protests rock France

French high school students are set to disrupt education across the country on Monday as a series of student protests escalates, with up to 500 schools potentially closing their doors. Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced the closures, citing security concerns stemming from recent unrest. Over the past week, the movement has spread from a Paris school to a nationwide protest, marked by incidents of violence against both students and security forces.

In one instance, a 16-year-old student lost his teeth to a rubber bullet, while another was hit in the eye. Geffray blamed far-left infiltrators for the violence, alleging that 78 education staff members had been injured during the protests. Despite calls for the movement to continue on Tuesday, the prime minister outlined a plan to address the students' grievances, including the need for more teachers, better facilities, and urgent repairs to dilapidated school buildings.

Over 5,000 people, mostly minors, have been arrested since the protests began, and Amnesty International has criticized the government's use of force, calling for students to be allowed to express their grievances without fear of violence or arbitrary arrest.