French students have set fire to school entrances and blocked education facilities across the country as protests over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school buildings escalated into violent clashes on Thursday, October 1.
The fires broke out at two high schools in Nantes, western France, while another blaze was recorded at a school in Rouen.
The demonstrations, which began last week, have spread to hundreds of secondary schools and at least 30 universities, with students demanding more teachers, better facilities and improved learning conditions.
In Nantes, a fire at Nelson Mandela High School spread from a burning rubbish bin to the front of the building, damaging the entrance hall.
Another school in the city was also affected by a fire, while footage showed flames at the entrance of a school in Rouen.
The unrest was also reported in Marseille, where staff at Victor Hugo High School were splashed with petrol as protesters reportedly carried containers.
At Saint-Exupery High School, protesters set fire to a fire truck, according to Reuters.
A headteacher at Degrugillier High School in Auchel was also injured in the ear by a firework during the unrest, while authorities reported clashes and arrests in several locations.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held a crisis meeting on Thursday following the escalation.
The government later described parts of the demonstrations as having descended into what it called “urban violence.”
French authorities said hundreds of people had been arrested as the protests spread. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 625 people had been detained, while 83 police officers and gendarmes were injured. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said 119 people, including students and school staff, had been injured.
The protests have centred on complaints about shortages of teachers and supervisors, overcrowded classrooms and poorly maintained school buildings. Students have also raised concerns about inadequate facilities, including classrooms, toilets and canteens.
Seventeen-year-old Raphael, who joined a protest in Strasbourg, said that some rooms at his school had leaks and that the institution lacked enough toilets. He also complained about a small cafeteria, limited resources and insufficient supervisors.
The demonstrations have now extended beyond secondary schools, with university students joining the action.
At least 30 universities have reportedly been blocked, including campuses in Paris and Rennes.
Public transport has also been disrupted in parts of the country. Services in Marseille and Strasbourg were halted on Thursday following incidents involving vandalism, threats of violence and attempts to prevent protesters from moving between locations.
The protests have also become a political issue, with government figures and politicians on the right blaming groups associated with the French left for encouraging the unrest
Leaders on the left have rejected responsibility for the violence while arguing that the concerns raised by students over education and public services should be addressed.
National Rally leader Marine Le Pen accused members of La France Insoumise of overseeing the unrest and called for a new anti-rioting law.
La France Insoumise leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, meanwhile, said he supported non-violent demonstrations and argued that blaming the political left would not resolve the problems behind the protests.
Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan condemned the violence in the city but said young people had legitimate concerns about their future and public services. Nice Mayor Eric Ciotti separately called for parents of young people found responsible for damaging school property to pay for repairs.
The protests began last week and expanded rapidly amid wider public-sector demonstrations over government spending plans. More than 350 high schools had been affected as of Wednesday, with the unrest occurring alongside a broader strike by public-sector workers.
French authorities are now facing pressure to restore order while responding to students’ complaints about staffing and school conditions.
Education Minister, Édouard Geffray, is expected to meet student and union representatives as the government considers measures to prevent further disruption to schools.
