French students protest teacher shortages and school conditions nationwide

Tens of thousands of French students have launched nationwide protests over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and poor school conditions, sparked by high schools in Paris' deprived suburbs. Police have arrested over 5,000 people amid clashes. The protests, spreading to more than 1,200 high schools, began in Seine-Saint-Denis where two-thirds of schools have unfilled teacher positions. Demonstrators demand equal resources, citing canceled classes, unsanitary conditions, and a below-inflation 1.7% education budget increase for 2027. This marks France's largest high school protest movement since the 1990s, highlighting how marginalized urban neighborhoods increasingly influence national politics. Experts note spending per secondary student has stagnated over the past decade despite growing demands on schools.