Up to 500 schools across France were fully or partially closed on Monday amid a wave of student protests sweeping the country, according to the Education Minister.
Classes were suspended “fully or partially” at around 400 to 500 high schools because “security conditions were not met,” Education Minister Édouard Geffray said on Sunday. He added that 24 schools had been “burned or looted” since the student movement began.
Geffray described the closures as largely a precautionary measure ahead of major demonstrations called by protest leaders for Tuesday.
High-school students across France say their education is being disrupted by issues including teacher shortages and deteriorating school buildings.
The movement began at a school in Paris on September 17 but developed into nationwide protests last week. In some locations, clashes broke out between students and security forces, who used tear gas and batons.
The protests have brought renewed attention to students’ demands for better educational conditions, smaller class sizes and improved arrangements for teacher absences.
