France: 400 schools to stay closed as protests resume

At least 400 to 500 schools in France will not resume classes this Monday, October 5, due to renewed protests, according to Education Minister Édouard Geffray. This follows a similar number of school closures last Friday. Geffray stated that schools remain closed if safety conditions are not met or if staff have been directly attacked. He reported 78 education workers were injured, accusing far-left activists of infiltrating the student movement and showing extreme brutality. The protests began September 17 in the Île-de-France region and have spread to many cities. Students are demanding more staff and funding for education, citing teacher shortages, neglected buildings, and overcrowded schedules. Over 1,700 people were arrested on Friday, bringing the weekly total to 5,000. Student organizations have called for a third day of action on Tuesday, October 6, expressing disappointment over a lack of concrete measures.