France Gripped by School Unrest: 400 Schools Closed, About 2,000 Detained, 90% of Them Minors
A wave of violent protests in French high schools has spread from Paris to Lyon, Marseille, Rennes and Brest, with hundreds of injured teachers and students, as authorities already announce plans to hold parents liable for damages.
Around 400 high schools in France were closed on October 2, out of a total of 3,700 nationwide, according to the Ministry of Education, which reported that 564 schools were "subject to actions or disruptions." The number of people detained since the unrest began stands at around 2,000, with roughly 90 percent of them minors.
The violence has left at least 65 education staff injured, including 40 principals, and around 170 students wounded, while more than 100 schools suffered "severe damage." The movement began in the Paris region and rapidly spread nationwide, reaching cities including Lyon, Marseille, Rennes and Brest. Students are protesting excessively long school hours, poor conditions including overheated classrooms, and frequent staff absences.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray characterized the events as "ultra-violent fringe groups" hijacking legitimate grievances, while Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin announced prosecutors would pursue parental liability for damages caused by children. The protests are unfolding amid government accusations that the hard-left France Unbowed party is organizing the demonstrations, roughly six months ahead of presidential elections.
MKNews Hub · Macedonia · October 3, 2026
