French government closes schools during student protest wave
World · 5 October 2026
Written by AI from multiple news reports
France's education minister said up to 500 high schools would close on Monday, October 7, because of safety concerns linked to student protests.
The protests began in mid-September. Students are angry about teacher shortages, crowded classrooms, and poor school buildings. Since then, 24 schools have been burned or badly damaged. At least 170 students and 78 school staff have been hurt.
Police have arrested more than 5,000 people since the movement started, and around 85 percent of them are under 18. On Friday, a 59-year-old teacher was attacked and had gasoline poured on him during a protest in La Ciotat.