French school protests escalate into clashes with police in several cities
High school students in Paris, Toulouse and Lille held fresh protests and blockades demanding more school funding, with demonstrations turning violent in several cities.
French high school students launched a new wave of protests on 1 October, blockading schools in multiple cities to demand increased funding for education. The movement, which began locally, is now spreading nationwide.
In Paris, students gathered outside Henri IV and Lamartine high schools. In Toulouse, demonstrations turned violent as protesters set bins on fire and clashed with police. In Lille, the situation was even more tense, with demonstrators smashing bus shelters while police used tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Demands and grievances
Across the country, students are protesting against underfunded schools, unsafe building conditions and a shortage of teachers. A heavy police presence at many protest sites further heightened tensions between authorities and young demonstrators.
Students and school staff have warned that the mobilisation will not stop until their demands are addressed. No specific government response to the students' concerns has been reported so far, and organisers say the movement will continue to spread across France.
