Student anger spreads across France

Blockades and clashes escalate as govt prepares spending cuts

PARIS:

French student protests over teacher shortages and deteriorating school buildings spread to more schools on Wednesday, with hundreds detained and dozens injured as demonstrations became a political flashpoint ahead of the government's unveiling of its 2027 budget.

The demonstrations and school blockades, which began last week and coincided with Tuesday's wider public-sector strike, had spread to 356 high schools by Wednesday, according to officials. Some protests turned violent, with demonstrators throwing projectiles at police in Lyon and Lille.

In Saint-Denis, north of Paris, students gathered outside a school near a fire that had been set as police watched the situation. "There are cockroaches and rats everywhere in the school," said Fadila, a 17-year-old student, who also complained that classroom temperatures could swing from sweltering to below freezing.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray said 119 people, including students and school staff, had been injured since the demonstrations began. Most of the injured staff were school principals and teachers.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 625 people were detained on Wednesday, following more than 440 detentions the previous day, with most of those detained being minors. He also said there had been seven incidents in which hydrochloric acid was thrown at law-enforcement officers.

The government has condemned violence but acknowledged concerns over conditions in schools. President Emmanuel Macron said schools should remain open and focused on education rather than being blockaded or having rubbish bins set alight.

The protests have drawn support from politicians from the hard-left France Unbowed party, including Saint-Denis Mayor Bally Bagayoko.