French Student Protests Spread Across Cities Over Education Funding

Thousands of students across France are protesting in one of the country's largest waves of unrest in months, with hundreds of schools blocked or shut and hundreds of protesters detained over the state of the education system. The protests stem from anger over years of underinvestment in public education, with students citing overcrowded classrooms, poor building conditions, staff shortages, and teacher absences. Demonstrations have spread to cities including Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, and Montpellier, with some escalating into clashes with police, fires, and tear gas use. Authorities have acknowledged students' concerns while condemning the violence, and the education ministry reported 65 staff injured. Students are demanding greater investment, better infrastructure, more teachers, and improved working conditions, alongside broader social welfare concerns like housing assistance and subsidised meals.