Widespread student protests have disrupted hundreds of schools across France, with clashes between demonstrators and police intensifying as the movement spreads beyond the Paris region to cities including Strasbourg, Marseille, Rennes, Nantes, and Toulouse. Around 400 schools remained closed as of Friday, with more than 560 educational institutions reportedly affected by the unrest.

The protests, which began last month, center on grievances over overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, deteriorating school buildings, and insufficient government funding for education. Students have also raised concerns about staff absences, complicated university application processes, and the impact of earlier heatwaves on classroom conditions. Authorities estimate that nearly 3,000 lycée students — mostly teenagers — have been arrested since the protests started, with approximately 2,000 detained since last month combined, including nearly 2,000 on one day alone.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin characterized the protests as increasingly violent, suggesting that a “violent minority” may not all be high school students. He said the unrest has escalated beyond student demonstrations into broader public order disturbances, citing incidents where buses and cars were set on fire, and schools were targeted with arson. On Thursday, several fires were reported in at least two high schools, and an incident involving a teacher being splashed with petrol was reported in Marseille. Riot police deployed tear gas in some areas to disperse crowds blocking school entrances and setting barricades.

Meanwhile, the French Education Minister Edouard Geffray confirmed the closure of over 400 schools and educational establishments as the situation continues to affect regular operations. The protests have also sparked debate regarding the government’s education budget, which is planned to increase by 1.7%—a figure that critics argue falls below the current inflation rate and is inadequate to address systemic issues.

Political dimensions have emerged amid the unrest, with intelligence reports presented at a crisis meeting suggesting that the protests were partly instigated by members of the hard-left political group La France Insoumise (LFI). LFI lawmaker Louis Boyard denied involvement, disputing claims that the party had a role in organizing the demonstrations.

The unrest has also spread beyond France’s borders, with some high school students in the Belgian city of Liège staging protests on Thursday.

Officials continue to monitor the evolving situation as authorities seek to balance addressing students’ concerns and restoring order.