Between 400 and 500 high schools in France were expected to be fully or partly closed on Monday, 5 October, as protests over teacher shortages and the condition of school buildings entered a second week.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray gave the estimate on Sunday. France has about 3,700 high schools, according to Reuters. The estimate covers partial closures as well as schools where all lessons were suspended.
What students are demanding
The protests began around Paris after pupils and teachers raised concerns about a shortage of staff. They spread as students at other schools complained about overcrowded classrooms, damaged buildings and unequal learning conditions.
Students speaking to Al Jazeera in Paris said missing teachers had disrupted subjects including maths and English. Some said they were also demonstrating in support of pupils in poorer areas whose schools have inadequate facilities.
The disruption has gone beyond classroom boycotts. Students have blocked entrances at some schools, while there have also been clashes with police and attacks on school property. Geffray said 24 schools had been burned or ransacked and 78 members of teaching staff injured since the protests began. Those are government figures.
At a high school in central Paris on Monday, its headteacher said a masked group tried to force its way in and started a fire. Firefighters put it out, but the school evacuated pupils and suspended classes. She said those involved were not pupils at the school, according to Reuters. The incident should not be presented as typical of the students taking part in the wider protests.
Government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon said restoring order was the government’s priority. Student unions have called for nationwide demonstrations on Tuesday, leaving schools facing another day of possible disruption.
