Up to 500 French schools to close Monday amid student protests

Between 400 and 500 schools in France will partially or totally close on Monday as authorities prepare for more student demonstrations. Education minister Édouard Geffray said on Sunday that security conditions have not been met to allow for normal classes.

Geffray said 24 schools have been burnt or ransacked since the unrest began last month. He also reported that 78 education staff members have been injured, stating that the deliberate targeting of staff is something the government has never seen before.

The protests began at a Paris school on 17 September and have spread to cities including Montpellier, Nantes, and Marseille. Students are demonstrating against underfunding, a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and run-down buildings.

Clashes between students and riot police have led to more than 5,000 arrests, most of whom are minors. On Friday, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 1,747 people were arrested. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said 735 of the country's 3,700 schools have been affected by the violence in some way.

Geffray claimed that far-left activists have infiltrated the high school student movement and hijacked it to engage in extreme violence. He said this poses a risk to both students and staff.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government is taking steps to address the difficulties faced by students and staff. These measures include improving facilities, better organising school days, and making the university admissions platform more transparent. Lecornu also said the government is accelerating the review of a "vandal-pays" bill to ensure those responsible for damage bear the cost of their actions. Protest organisers have called for renewed demonstrations on Tuesday because the government has not produced concrete measures.