France closes up to 500 schools Monday over student protests

Up to 500 schools in France may close partially or completely on Monday due to student protests, according to the French education minister. Lessons will be "totally or partly suspended" in about 400 to 500 high schools as security conditions have not been met, Édouard Geffray stated. Twenty-four schools have been burned or ransacked since the protests began last week.

Thousands of students have been demonstrating over education standards, with issues such as lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and deteriorating buildings being raised. On Friday, French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin revealed that 735 of France's 3,700 schools had been affected by violent protests in some way. The education minister warned that the number of schools potentially closed on Monday could match Friday's figure but assured a "partial, progressive return to lessons".

Geffray accused activists, particularly from the far-left, of infiltrating the student movement and engaging in extreme violence, posing a risk to staff and students. A total of 78 education staff members were injured, which Geffray called unprecedented. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported 1,747 arrests on Friday, with over 5,000 people arrested overall since the movement started, around 85% of whom are minors.

Demonstrators have called for protests to continue on Tuesday, accusing the government of lacking "concrete measures". Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu pledged further steps to address the challenges faced by high school students and educators, including ensuring classes continue, improving facilities, better organizing school days, and making the French university admissions platform more transparent.

The government is also accelerating the review of its "vandal-pays" bill to ensure those responsible for damage pay for their actions.