France Shuts Up to 500 Schools After Protests Hit 24 Campuses
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 4
France Shuts Up to 500 Schools After Protests Hit 24 Campuses
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 4
Summary
400 to 500 French high schools will stay partly or fully closed after a week of student unrest, Education Minister Edouard Geffray said.
24 schools have been burned or ransacked since the movement began, and authorities have arrested at least 5,000 people, mostly teenagers, while dozens of students and teachers were injured.
The protests started in the Paris region over overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and dilapidated buildings, then spread nationwide as some rallies turned violent with street fires and police baton charges.
Tuesday demonstrations are still planned, while teacher unions are urging strikes and Paris police say the situation has become "out of control," blaming some unrest on "professional rioters."