French Students Strike Over Teacher Shortages and Crumbling Schools

French high school students are staging a mass strike over teacher shortages and deteriorating school buildings, with protests escalating into clashes with riot police nationwide. Over 5,000 people have been arrested, mostly minors, while hundreds have been injured, including a 15-year-old who lost a hand to a police grenade. Students cite acute staff shortages, decaying facilities, and unequal funding hitting poorer areas hardest. At least 24 schools have been looted or set on fire, with 735 of France's 3,700 schools affected. The protests reflect broader anger over austerity measures driven by France's budget deficits and growing public debt.