French police fire tear gas as thousands protest school funding and living costs

Thousands of students and workers marched across France on Saturday over school funding and living costs, with police using tear gas in Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand to disperse demonstrators at banned rallies. The protests, which began over high school staff shortages, have expanded into a national movement. Authorities deployed up to 70,000 officers nationwide, backed by helicopters and armored vehicles, after last weekend's unrest damaged or looted some 3,000 shops. In Paris, the march was confined to the city's southeastern edge, while major museums and an art fair canceled weekend programs. Energy prices rose 21.3% in September, driving inflation to 3.1%. President Emmanuel Macron met high school representatives Friday, promising to overhaul university admissions, but protesters demand concrete measures. Student groups seek 250,000 more university places, more teachers, and financial aid, as public schools lost 15.4 million teaching hours in 2024-25 due to unfilled teacher absences.