French government orders school reopenings amid student protests

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu ordered schools to reopen Monday where security permits, as student protests disrupted hundreds of high schools and damaged 24 buildings. Between 400 and 500 high schools will have classes fully or partially suspended Monday due to unsafe conditions, with over 160 closed in the Paris region alone. The government pledged to prioritize replacing long-term teacher absences and improve Parcoursup admissions. Prefects have banned gatherings outside specific schools in Paris and several departments through early October. The protests, which spread last week, prompted Lecornu to convene regional leaders Tuesday on school renovations and demand progress reports by mid-October.