French student protests continue, police arrest about 2,000 people

(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) As student protests sweep across France, police have arrested about 2,000 people. Dozens of people were injured during the protests.

On Friday, more than 400 schools and colleges remained closed across France. Student protests over education-related issues continue, with some turning violent.

Protests broke out last month at high schools in the Paris region, initially over teacher shortages, dilapidated buildings and a lack of learning materials. This week, protests spread across the country.

Police have arrested about 2,000 people. Dozens of people were injured in the protests, including 40 middle school principals.

Arson attacks occurred at at least two middle schools on Thursday, according to officials. At another school in the southern city of Marseille, a teacher was accidentally splashed with gasoline during a conflict.

In the eastern city of Strasbourg, at least one car was burned and in the southwestern city of Toulouse, riot police clashed with young people.

Clashes between protesting students and police were again reported in cities including Paris on Friday.

The French government has accused the far-left party France Informed (LFI) of starting the protests, but the party has denied the accusations.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a senior leader of France Unyielding and a candidate for the 2027 presidential election, did express support for these protests, but he also called on students to use non-violent means of resistance.