Overview
- The protests began in late September and have spread to hundreds of secondary schools and universities, with the government reporting more than 5,000 arrests since Monday.
- Authorities say the unrest included arson, attacks on school staff and police, and hundreds of injuries to security forces, students and school employees.
- Education Minister Édouard Geffray ordered hundreds of schools closed and remote teaching where needed and held talks with student representatives while promising targeted measures to ease shortages.
- Student leaders publicly condemned violent scenes but urged continued protest action, and unions signalled support for a nationwide demonstration and strike planned for Tuesday.
- Longstanding problems — teacher shortages, overcrowded classes, ageing buildings and a 2027 budget that limits real-terms increases — underpin the unrest and have sharpened political fights over responsibility and outside involvement.