A wave of student protests has forced the closure of approximately 400 of France's 3,700 secondary schools as of Friday, with the Ministry of National Education reporting that 564 schools and educational establishments have been disrupted or subject to industrial action since the start of the day. Authorities reported 1,949 arrests on Thursday alone, bringing the total number of detentions since the unrest began to nearly 3,000, the vast majority of them minors between the ages of 15 and 18. Many schools have pivoted to remote learning in response to the closures ordered by local police prefects.

The protests, which originated last week in the Paris region, have spread to major cities including Lille, Lyon, Nantes, Marseille, and Strasbourg. French Education Minister Édouard Geffray confirmed that 40 headteachers were among 65 public school staff members injured, with principals targeted, assaulted, or harassed while attempting to maintain order at school gates. A total of 305 police officers, gendarmes, and firefighters were also injured during heavy clashes on Thursday, and at least 170 students have been hurt since demonstrations began. In Marseille, a crowd surrounded a fire engine and set it ablaze after forcing the crew to flee.

More than 100 secondary schools have sustained significant structural damage, with protesters lighting fires outside building entrances in Nantes and Rouen and barricading entryways with trash bins and bicycles. Approximately 30 university campuses were also blockaded by older students joining the movement. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has convened emergency crisis meetings to address the escalating situation.

Students and the Union Syndicale Lycéenne, the main student union driving the demonstrations, say the protests are a response to systemic failures in the French public education system, including severe teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms frequently exceeding 34 students, and deteriorating school infrastructure. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has directed local prosecutors to pursue civil liability claims against parents of minors responsible for property damage. With protests continuing into the weekend and hundreds more schools potentially affected, French authorities face mounting pressure to address the underlying grievances while restoring order.