Arrests and injuries mount

Roughly three thousand people have been arrested since protests began nearly two weeks ago outside Paris, with nearly two thousand detained on Thursday alone, according to the French interior ministry.

Hundreds hurt in clashes

One hundred seventy students and sixty five school staff members have been injured, according to education minister Édouard Geffray. Nearly four hundred police officers have also reportedly suffered injuries.

Schools close nationwide

More than five hundred French schools remained closed as students set fires, blockaded schools and clashed with riot police. Roughly nine hundred demonstrations took place around France on Friday.

Teacher shortage is main complaint

The education ministry found that during the two thousand twenty four to two thousand twenty five school year, nearly ten percent of teaching hours went untaught in public secondary schools. About seven point five percent of those lost hours were due to failure to find substitutes.

Crumbling buildings, overcrowded classrooms

Students report thirty five people per classroom without enough chairs. One seventeen year old told AFP there are thirty five degrees Celsius in summer, insufficient toilets, water leaks and a cafeteria too small for the school population.

“There are 35 of us per classroom. With 35 degrees Celsius [95 degrees Fahrenheit] in summer, it's unbearable.”

Heatwave adds to student grievances

A nineteen year old protester told The Guardian students want to study in decent conditions. France experienced deadly heatwaves over the summer, with nearly eight thousand people dying as a result of high temperatures.

“We're also protesting about the conditions in the heatwave.”

University application system criticized

Student protesters have expressed grievances with Parcoursup, the country's online university application system, which they have described as a source of stress and mistrust in the education system.

Protests spread from Paris outward

Protests began with students at Lycée Saint-Exupéry in Créteil outside Paris in late September. They spread throughout the Île-de-France region, then across the country to Rennes, Nantes, Strasbourg, Marseilles, Toulouse and Lille.

Thursday brings violent escalation

Fires were started at two French schools. At Saint-Exupery high school in Marseilles, hundreds of students set ablaze a fire truck. Several teachers were accidentally splashed with gasoline at Victor Hugo high school in Marseille.

Geffray seeks dialogue but students demand action

Education minister Édouard Geffray met with unions and student organizations Friday, announcing a platform for reform proposals. Student organizations called for continued demonstrations, citing lack of concrete measures from the French government.

“High school students must be listened to. Their difficulties call for concrete responses, both in their schools and at the national level.”

Officials warn parents and condemn violence

Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said parents whose children cause property damage should pay reparations. President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that none of the students' fears legitimizes violence.

“However, none of these debates, none of these fears legitimizes violence.”

Student unions call for continued action

Two student unions, the Student Union and the High School Trade Union, jointly called for continued protests next week. They urged students to block and retake universities and high schools.

“let's block and retake the universities and high schools!”