French Secondary Schools See Growing Unrest as Fires and Blockades Spread Nationwide

A protest by French high‑school students over overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and deteriorating facilities intensified on Thursday, marked by fires outside schools and blockades in multiple cities. Over 160 schools were closed, and university students joined the demonstrations in Paris and Marseille, with hundreds of participants detained.

The government has characterized the unrest as “urban violence.” Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu urged all ministers to postpone non‑essential travel across the country. The demonstrations, which began last week, reflect longstanding grievances including unfavorable timetables, large class sizes, a lack of teachers, and overheating classrooms during this year’s heatwaves.

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