Hundreds of French Schools Shut as Student Protests Turn Violent

Hundreds of schools across France were closed on Monday after a wave of student protests swept the country. Up to 500 high schools shut their doors completely or partly because of safety concerns. A 15-year-old boy also lost his hand when a police tear gas grenade exploded while he was holding it.

The protests started at one school in Paris on September 17. Students were upset about bad conditions in their schools, including teachers who were often absent, school days that were too long, and buildings in poor shape. The demonstrations quickly spread across the whole country and sometimes became violent.

France's Education Minister Edouard Geffray said lessons were suspended in 400 to 500 high schools on Monday because safety conditions had not been fulfilled. He said the closures were mostly a precaution, since more large protests were planned for Tuesday. Geffray added that he hoped schools would have a partial, progressive return to lessons soon.

The minister also shared some troubling numbers. He said 24 schools had been burned or ransacked since the protests began, and 78 school staff members had been hurt. Geffray blamed some of the violence on outside activists who he said joined the student movement and pushed it toward extreme behavior.

The teenagers protesting at French high schools, called lycées, have a long list of complaints. They say too many teachers miss school without being replaced, and that buildings are run-down and uncomfortable. Last summer, some towns hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), and many French schools have no air conditioning.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu responded on Sunday by asking local leaders to fill in for teachers who are absent for a long time. He also scheduled a meeting for Tuesday with regional leaders to talk about fixing old school buildings. Protest organizers said the government still had not offered real solutions and called for demonstrations to continue.

The protests have led to thousands of arrests. More than 5,000 people have been detained since the movement began, and 85 percent of them are minors — meaning they are under 18 years old. On Sunday, a 16-year-old was arrested after a 59-year-old teacher was attacked and had gasoline poured on them during a protest in the southern town of La Ciotat.

Police have also faced criticism for how they handled the crowds. The French branch of Amnesty International said the police response was disproportionate, meaning officers used more force than was needed. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez defended the police, saying they were not targeting young people but protecting students who wanted to peacefully voice their demands. The debate over the protests is expected to continue as France heads toward presidential elections in the coming months.