Over 730 high schools disrupted across France as student protests turn violent, triggering 1,700 arrests

High school protests over deteriorating educational conditions disrupted more than 730 schools across France on Friday, as violent clashes between youth demonstrators and riot police prompted student unions to call for a new wave of nationwide rallies.

What caused the escalation in high school protests and mass arrests across France?

The protest movement—centered in lycées serving students aged 15 to 18—escalated sharply on Friday as students blocked school entrances with burning trash bins and hurled projectiles at security forces.

Riot police responded with tear gas, batons, and riot shields in major urban centers including Paris, Lille, Brest, Toulouse, and Aubervilliers. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed 1,747 arrests on Friday alone, bringing total detentions since Monday to roughly 5,000 as police cracked down on public order disruptions and property destruction.

The unrest was marked by severe violent incidents, including a teacher sprayed with petrol and physically assaulted in La Ciotat, two high school entrances set on fire in Paris, and an officer kicked and beaten in Belfort. In Tours, a young demonstrator permanently lost the use of an eye during clashes with police.

According to official tallies, over 300 law enforcement officers, 65 school staff members—including 40 principals—and 170 students have sustained injuries since the demonstrations spread nationwide from the Paris region. Students cite excessively long daily schedules, overcrowded classrooms, overheated facilities, and chronic teacher shortages as primary grievances.

How are political leaders and unions responding to the growing unrest?

The widespread disruption has intensified political friction seven months ahead of France’s next presidential election.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray said 735 schools were affected on Friday, down from 30 percent on Thursday, and announced an emergency action plan to accelerate the replacement of absent teachers. Geffray argued that legitimate student grievances were being “held hostage by ultra-violent fringe groups” and accused the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party of exploiting youth anger for political gain.

LFI senior official Manuel Bompard rejected the government’s claims, accusing officials of “descending into conspiracy theories.” High school union leaders, including Ryad Rani of the USL, meanwhile denounced what they described as “extremely violent police repression” and called for concrete policy commitments before organizing further coordinated rallies on Tuesday.

According to reporting by Le Monde and France 24, student groups and public sector labor unions are coordinating strategy ahead of planned demonstrations on Tuesday.