Student protests across France have intensified, with about 400 schools closed on Friday and nearly 100 reportedly suffering serious damage as demonstrations over conditions in the education system escalated into clashes and violence.
France’s Education Ministry said about 100 schools had been severely damaged during the protests, while 40 headteachers had been injured.
The demonstrations have been driven by a range of complaints, including overcrowded classrooms, heavy timetables, teacher shortages and difficult conditions during heatwaves earlier in the year.
Riot police have been deployed in several areas as authorities struggle to contain increasingly violent confrontations around schools.
Nearly 3,000 Students Detained
The Interior Ministry said nearly 3,000 high school students, mostly aged between 15 and 18, had been detained since the protests began.
Of that number, 1,949 were detained on Thursday alone, highlighting the rapid escalation of the unrest.
The latest disturbances were reported around the Jean-Rostand high school in Strasbourg and the Simone-Veil high school in Marseille on Friday.
In Strasbourg, police used tear gas during a student blockade near Couffignal secondary school as authorities attempted to manage the demonstrations.
The unrest has prompted growing concern among government officials, who have described some of the incidents as a form of urban violence.
Government Seeks to Hold Parents Responsible
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin urged local prosecutors during a meeting on Thursday night to pursue civil liability claims against parents whose children cause damage during the protests.
The move could allow authorities to seek financial compensation from parents for destruction allegedly caused by their children.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray also appealed to parents to intervene, warning that young people taking part in the demonstrations could be putting themselves at risk.
“Children are in danger on the streets,” Geffray said.
Despite the government’s efforts, there were no immediate signs that the protests were subsiding, with fresh incidents reported on Friday.
Damage Runs Into Millions of Euros
The financial cost of the unrest is also mounting, with authorities warning that damage from the protests could eventually run into hundreds of millions of euros.
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region alone has estimated damage from the demonstrations at about €25 million.
The continuing school closures and widespread disruption have added to pressure on the government to address students’ concerns while restoring order around schools.
