Over 5,000 Arrested As France Student Protests Enter Third Week

Student protests demanding reforms to France’s education system have entered a third week, with more than 5,000 people arrested since Monday.

The Interior Ministry said about 85 per cent of those arrested were minors as demonstrations spread across the country.

The protests began at a Paris school on September 17 before expanding into a nationwide movement last week.

However, several demonstrations have descended into violence, with clashes between teenagers and security forces reported in different locations.

Police have used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters, while videos shared on social media showed teenagers setting vehicles and rubbish bins on fire.

Critics have accused the police of using excessive force, although authorities have also blamed protesters for violent attacks and damage to property.

In the latest incident, police detained a 16-year-old on Sunday over an attack on a teacher in La Ciotat, southern France.

The 59-year-old teacher was reportedly doused with petrol and struck during a high school protest on Friday.

A video circulating online showed a masked person dressed in black splashing liquid over the teacher. A burning tree could also be seen nearby.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray said the government would suspend classes fully or partly in between 400 and 500 high schools.

He attributed the decision to security concerns, saying the conditions required for safe teaching had not been met.

Geffray also disclosed that 24 schools had suffered burning or looting since the protests began.

The minister further accused far-left activists of infiltrating the movement and turning some demonstrations towards extreme violence.

According to him, the involvement of such groups has complicated the students’ original demands for improvements to the education system.

Despite the escalating tensions, organisers have called for protests to continue on Tuesday.

They cited the government’s failure to announce what they described as “concrete measures” to address their concerns.

The widening unrest has placed additional pressure on the French government as it attempts to balance the students’ demands with growing security concerns.