French high school students have staged protests and blockades across the country over school conditions, including timetables, class sizes, teacher shortages and overheated classrooms during this year’s heatwaves. The demonstrations, which began in the Paris region last week, have spread to several cities and affected hundreds of schools. The unrest has also coincided with nationwide protests and strikes over the government’s budget plans.

According to France’s Education Ministry, around 400 schools were affected by protests or disruptions on Tuesday out of approximately 3,700 schools nationwide. About 40 schools were blockaded and attempts were made to blockade another 44. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 440 people had been detained across the country, with around two-thirds reportedly placed in police custody. Ten people, including students and staff, were also reported injured.

Some demonstrations escalated into clashes between protesters and police. Students in Lille reportedly set rubbish bins on fire and threw bottles, paving stones and other objects at police, who responded with tear gas. Similar confrontations were reported in Nantes, Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lyon and Rennes, while vandalism was reported at some locations. In one Paris suburb, teachers formed a protective line around protesting students as police moved in.

Also Read: RBL Bank Receives Rs 173 Crore GST Demand Notice For FY23

The protests have drawn a strong response from the French government. Education Minister Edouard Geffray condemned the violence and said legal proceedings had been initiated over the incidents. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu also warned against escalation at high schools and criticised the involvement of the hard-left France Unbowed party, which he accused of encouraging the demonstrations.

The student protests have unfolded alongside wider nationwide industrial action over the government's budget. Trade unions organised demonstrations in Paris and other cities, with unions estimating that around 300,000 people participated nationwide. Police estimated about 30,000 protesters in Paris, while roughly one in 10 teachers were reported to have joined the strike. Firefighters also staged a protest in the capital.

In the Paris suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis, LFI mayor Bally Bagayoko joined hundreds of students protesting outside Lycee Paul-Eluard and described their grievances as legitimate, citing disparities in resources between wealthier and lower-income areas. Students have similarly raised concerns about conditions inside schools, with one 16-year-old protester describing her school as unsanitary. The protests have therefore combined student concerns over day-to-day school conditions with wider disputes over public services, resources and government policy.

Also Read: Amit Shah To Address Jalandhar Rally As BJP-AAP Face-Off Over Punjab Drug Crisis