French school protests: Over 1,900 arrests and 305 police officers injured

1,949 people have now been arrested in the ongoing school protests in France. Most of those arrested are accused of violence, the Interior Ministry said. The violence was primarily directed against emergency services: 305 police and gendarmes have been injured so far. This Friday, more than 400 schools will remain closed due to the protest and will only offer distance learning, said Education Minister Édouard Geffray. According to him, 170 students and 65 people from the education sector have also been injured since the protests began.

Since the end of last week, students in several cities have been demonstrating for better equipment and more resources at secondary lycées. They complain about dilapidated school buildings, overcrowded classes and too few teachers. Part of the anger at high schools also related to the platform through which university admissions take place.

Education Minister seeks dialogue

While many students demonstrated peacefully, there were also repeated riots. Garbage cans burned, emergency services were attacked and school buildings were damaged. Public transport was restricted in several cities because of the protests. A fire truck was set on fire in Marseille. The Interior Ministry criticized that the situation no longer had anything to do with the legitimate expression of demands. Rather, signs of “urban unrest” can now be observed.