Hundreds of French schools to stay closed as new protests loom

Hundreds of French schools will remain partially or fully closed after the weekend, as Education Minister Édouard Geffray said Sunday that student and staff safety cannot be guaranteed at 400 to 500 schools nationwide. The closures follow Friday's disruptions at the same number of schools, stemming from protests that began in mid-September over poor school conditions, including overcrowded buildings, cancelled classes, and staff shortages. Violence escalated last week, with buildings occupied, vandalized, and set on fire, leading to around 170 student injuries and thousands of arrests. Geffray blamed far-left activists for infiltrating and hijacking the demonstrations, while Amnesty International condemned disproportionate police violence against minors. Student organizations have called for new protests Tuesday, saying they have received no concrete commitments to their demands.