Up to 500 French schools to be totally or partly closed Monday

France plans to close up to 500 high schools on Monday due to student protests, according to Education Minister Edouard Geffray. The closures are a security measure in anticipation of large-scale demonstrations planned for Tuesday. Since the protests began on September 17, around 400-500 high schools have been partially or wholly suspended.

Geffray noted that 24 schools have been burned or ransacked during the movement. Students argue that their education is being disrupted by teacher absences, extended school hours, and deteriorating facilities. Geffray acknowledged that the number of affected schools on Monday would mirror the previous day's figure but promised a gradual resumption of lessons.

The unrest originated at a Paris school but has since spread nationwide, with instances of violence involving teenagers and security forces. Critics claim that some activists from the far-left have infiltrated the student movement and engaged in extreme violence. Over 5,000 people, primarily minors, have been arrested since the protests began.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez defended the security forces, stating that they are protecting schools and students who wish to peacefully express their demands. Amnesty France criticized the disproportionate use of police force against the demonstrators, emphasizing the need for students to voice their grievances without fear of violence or arbitrary arrests.