French student protests escalate: Up to 500 schools will remain closed on Monday, October 5

Up to 500 secondary schools across France will be partially or completely closed on Monday, October 5, as a nationwide student protest movement against deteriorating conditions in schools continues to escalate.

Why were the schools closed?

Education Minister Édouard Geffray said on Sunday that classes would be “totally or partially suspended” in 400 to 500 schools because security conditions could not be guaranteed. That figure is roughly in line with Friday, when about 400 high schools were closed due to blockades and clashes.

Geffray also said that 24 schools had been “burned or looted” since the movement began. The minister said 78 teaching staff were injured during the unrest, French newspaper Le Parisien reported.

The closure comes after protests that began in the Paris region quickly spread across France. Teenagers blocked school entrances, disrupted classes and gathered outside campuses, with some demonstrations turning into confrontations with riot police.

Authorities say the unrest included fires, vandalism and attacks on police and school staff. Reuters reported that around 5,000 people, mostly teenagers, had been arrested across the country since Monday, and more than 600 police officers had also been injured.

However, the protests did not begin with demands for confrontation. Students are concerned about the conditions in which they are expected to study.

What complaints do students have?

Their complaints include overcrowded classrooms, shortages of teachers and substitute staff, aging or poorly maintained school buildings and long school days.

Students also complained about uncomfortable classroom temperatures during the heatwave and the pressure created by France’s university admissions system.

Reuters reported that pupils in disadvantaged areas particularly highlighted inequalities in education. Some students said they were forced to take exams despite missing classes because teachers were not available.

The government acknowledged that some of the students’ complaints were legitimate, but made a clear distinction between peaceful demonstrations and the violence that accompanied some of the protests.

What do the authorities say?

French officials have condemned what they describe as “urban violence”, while authorities have also claimed that outside groups, including hard-left elements, are using or trying to take control of the movement. Representatives of the France Unbowed party rejected the allegations.

The government urged parents to prevent their children from participating in violent protests. Paris police chief Patrice Faure said the movement was “out of control” and called for a return to peaceful demonstrations.

Despite the escalation, student unions are planning further demonstrations this week and teachers’ unions have also announced industrial action. The ongoing unrest is therefore expected to put further pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government to address concerns about school conditions while restoring order around the affected institutions.