Student protests spread in France: Classes suspended in nearly 500 high schools

As student protests that began in response to educational conditions in France spread across the country, classes have been suspended in hundreds of high schools for security reasons.

French Minister of Education Edouard Geffray stated that classes were suspended in 400 to 500 high schools on Friday, and that education would be fully or partially suspended in a similar number of schools on Monday. Geffray indicated that the return to classes would be partial and gradual.

The ministry announced that classes would be fully or partially halted in schools where security conditions could not be ensured. Geffray also announced that 24 schools have been burned or looted since the protests began.

The demonstrations, which started in Paris, have spread to different cities including Montpellier, Nantes, and Marseille. Students are protesting against the government due to teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and poorly maintained school buildings.

French Minister of Justice Gerald Darmanin announced on Friday that 735 of the country's 3,700 schools had been affected by the protests in various ways. Minister of Education Geffray stated that 78 education workers were injured in the incidents.

According to Minister of the Interior Laurent Nunez, 1,747 people were detained on Friday. According to information in the media, the number of people detained since the start of the protests has exceeded 5,000; approximately 85 percent of those detained are underage protesters.

Student organizations organizing the demonstrations argued that the government has not taken "concrete measures" and called for the actions to continue on Tuesday.