Fires have erupted at several French schools as students blockaded institutions across the country in a nationwide protest over education funding and conditions. Two high schools in Nantes and another in Rouen saw their entrances engulfed by flames after protesters lit trash bins.
The demonstrations are driven by complaints about a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms and derelict buildings. University students joined the protests, mirroring the same demands. The interior ministry reports 1,949 arrests and 305 police‑injuries on Thursday, prompting the Prime Minister to hold an emergency meeting.
The government has described the protests as turning into urban violence. Fires at Nelson Mandela High School in Nantes have damaged the entrance hall, while in Marseille staff were sprayed with petrol. In Auchel, a teacher was injured by a stray firework.
At least 1,027 lycées and 222 of them were blockaded, according to government figures, with about 30 universities also reporting blockades. Transport services were halted in Marseille and Strasbourg amid vandalism and to curb the spread of protestors.
"The building is falling apart, the cafeteria is too small. Zero budget and resources," 17‑year‑old Raphael, protesting outside a Strasbourg school, expressed his frustration. Politicians from various parties have blamed both political extremes for fueling the unrest, with calls for new anti‑riot legislation.
