French Schools Partially Closed After Violent Student Protests

France has partially or fully closed hundreds of schools in the Paris region this Monday as a security measure following violent student protests last week. The government anticipates 400 to 500 high schools will be affected. Education Minister Édouard Geffray stated 24 schools were "burned or looted" and 78 staff have been injured since the protests began. He accused far-left militants of infiltrating the student movement, which opposes teacher shortages and poor school conditions. The protest movement began September 17 in Paris and has spread nationwide, intensifying Thursday in numerous cities. Classes will resume partially and progressively, according to the minister.