French High School Students Vandalize 24 Schools in Nationwide Protests

In France, 24 schools were burned or vandalized during high school student protests, and classes were suspended at 400-500 educational institutions nationwide. French Education Minister Edouard Geffre said 78 education system staff were injured in what he called deliberate attacks, describing the situation as unprecedented. Protests began September 21 at a Paris suburb lycee and spread across the country, with students launching fireworks at police and causing property damage. Students are protesting overcrowded classes, teacher shortages, poor school conditions, and heavy schedules. Authorities reported over 5,000 arrests by October 3, with the government blaming far-left groups linked to Jean-Luc Melenchon's France Unbowed party for radicalizing the movement.