France suspends lessons at 500 schools as student protests spread

France will partially or totally suspend lessons at up to 500 high schools on Monday, October 5, following clashes between riot police and student protesters over education standards, the education minister announced. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said security conditions are not met at the affected schools, with 24 establishments burned or ransacked since protests began. Thousands of students have demonstrated over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and run-down buildings, with unrest spreading from Paris to cities like Montpellier, Nantes, and Marseille. The protests, which started nearly two weeks ago in the low-income Seine-Saint-Denis area, have led to over 5,000 arrests, about 85% of them minors. Geffray blamed far-left activists for hijacking the movement, while Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu promised measures to improve facilities and class organization.