France Closes Hundreds of High Schools Amid Escalating Student Unrest

​PARIS — Nearly 400 high schools across France were forced to shut their doors as a nationwide student protest movement entered its second week, marked by intense blockades, structural damage, and violent clashes with law enforcement.

​The demonstrations, which erupted initially in the Paris region before sweeping across the country, involve teenagers protesting against systemic educational strains. Pupils cite excessively long school hours, chronic staff shortages, and poor facility conditions—including dilapidated buildings and poorly ventilated, overheated classrooms—as the catalysts for the movement.

​Education Minister Edouard Geffray acknowledged the legitimacy of the students’ core grievances but strongly condemned the spiraling unrest. He noted that out of France’s 3,700 high schools, roughly 400 faced closures, with several institutions shifting to remote learning, particularly in southern hubs like Marseille.

​According to government tallies, the protests have left at least 65 school staff members injured, including 40 high school principals. In response to the growing chaos, Geffray made a direct appeal to families: “Parents must clearly step up and tell their children not to go. What matters now is ensuring our children are no longer out on the streets, because they are in danger.”

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​The crackdown has also triggered a heavy legal and security response. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin announced that approximately 2,000 individuals have been taken into police custody since the demonstrations began, with 90 percent of those detained being minors. Darmanin added that he has instructed prosecutors to hold parents financially liable for any public or private property damage caused by their protesting children.

​While student unions and political figures continue to debate the root causes and the heavy-handed policing tactics, authorities maintain that ultra-violent fringe groups have hijacked what started as a legitimate student platform. Efforts by officials to engage with education unions are underway as the government scrambles to restore order to the country’s secondary education network.