France Closes 400 Schools Over Student Protests

France has closed about 400 high schools after a week of student protests over school conditions and staff shortages.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray said about 400 of France’s 3,700 high schools were closed on Friday. He said the movement had been taken over by “ultra-violent fringe groups.”

The protests began in the Paris region last week before spreading nationwide. Students have blocked school entrances and clashed with police in several cities. They are protesting long school hours, poor school conditions and staff shortages.

Students have also complained about overheated classrooms and frequent teacher absences. The government has acknowledged the concerns but has condemned the violence linked to some protests. Many schools have also moved classes online, particularly in the southern city of Marseille.

Geffray said at least 65 school staff had been injured since the protests began. The figure includes 40 high school principals, he told BFMTV.

“Parents must clearly step up and tell their children not to go” to the protests, Geffray said.

He added that students needed to stay off the streets because of the risks. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin also said about 2,000 people had been arrested since the protests began. He said about 90 per cent of those arrested were minors.

Darmanin said he had asked prosecutors to hold parents responsible for damage their children caused. He also called for parents to pay for repairs where their children caused damage. The protests have included blockades, clashes with police and cases of arson.

Reuters reported that fires were set at several schools, while police also clashed with youths in cities including Marseille, Strasbourg and Toulouse. The unrest has also injured students, teachers and other staff.

Earlier reports showed the protests had affected more than 350 high schools by Wednesday. The government has urged schools to move classes online where protests or damage make it unsafe for students to attend.

Meanwhile, students have continued to demand better learning conditions and more staff. The protests have become a major issue for the French government, which is also facing pressure over its proposed 2027 budget.