Student protests continue in France: blockades and unrest in over 560 high schools - Liveblog

Key points THE POINT 20:14 735 high schools hit by disruptions, down from yesterday 18:29 Over 560 high schools hit by blockades and disruptions 17:47 French student unions call for protests to continue, new action on Tuesday 17:00 VIDEO | Protests in Paris 12:39 Closed schools in France rise to 100, already 150 detained 11:09 French Education Minister: 'Our children on the streets are in danger' 11:04 Situation spirals at the Verlomme high school in Paris 08:58 Student protests in France, 65 school staff injured, including 40 head teachers 09:10 PHOTOS | France, damage and devastation during student protests 08:45 Justice Minister: 'Parents should pay for damage to schools' THE POINT Chaos, violence and over two thousand detentions across France during student protests that escalated into outright riots, with schools set on fire and clashes with police. Video Student protest in France, high schools closed and guarded in Marseille 20:14 735 high schools hit by disruptions, down from yesterday 735 schools in France "suffered various kinds of disruptions during the day" amid the student protests inflaming the country: this is what Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced, specifying that this is "30% less than yesterday." "Overall, we have also recorded less violence against staff: today, in fact, three people were unfortunately injured, compared to 31 yesterday," the minister added during a press briefing at the end of a day of meetings with trade union organizations, student associations and parents' associations. 18:29 Over 560 high schools hit by blockades and disruptions 564 schools today were hit by protests or disruptions, amid the student protests inflaming France, according to figures released by the Education Ministry. Minister Édouard Geffray had indicated in the morning that nearly 400 high schools (out of the 3,700 in the country) remained closed today, with many schools planning to switch to remote learning. According to estimates from the Ile-de-France, Grand-Est and Auvergne Rhone-Alpes regions, damage to school buildings already amounts to several million euros. In the Paris region alone, Ile-de-France, regional president Valérie Pécresse cited 7 million euros in damage. As for the Nelson Mandela high school in Nantes, whose entrance was "completely destroyed" yesterday by a violent fire on the margins of the protests, it will remain closed "until the All Saints' holidays," sources from the Pays de la Loire region reported, specifying that teaching will continue "remotely." 17:47 French student unions call for protests to continue, new action on Tuesday French student unions have called for the mobilization in France's schools to continue, in the absence of "concrete measures" from the government: this was announced at the end of the meeting between student associations and Education Minister Édouard Geffray. "The Union syndicale lycéenne (USL) is calling to continue the mobilization, to keep up the demonstrations and to join the 'act III' movement on Tuesday." That day, across the Alps, a new national day of mobilization is being announced, which the CGT and Solidaires unions are also joining, said USL president Ryad Rani. At the end of the meeting with the Education Minister in Paris, representatives of the high school student unions said they had "obtained some answers, particularly regarding school hours, mental health and the state of the buildings. However, we have not received concrete commitments from the Minister. We are a bit disappointed," said the representative of the Lycéens union, quoted by the newspaper Le Figaro. "The mobilization must therefore continue in the high schools. (...) We are proud to belong to this generation capable of mobilizing for its rights," the student representatives continued. 17:00 VIDEO | Protests in Paris Video Paris, more student protests and clashes with police 12:39 Closed schools in France rise to 100, already 150 detained At least 100 schools are already closed and 150 people have been detained by police during disturbances recorded in various cities. The mobilization, though not as widespread as yesterday, continues. Students are demanding better teaching conditions and more resources for schools, and in many situations they are joined by elements from outside the schools who are extremely politicized. In Paris this morning, a police car was targeted with stones and objects in the 12th arrondissement. A tram was also targeted and its windshield shattered while it was in motion. The capital's most "hot" spot is the Place de la Nation, where some young people set fire to garbage bins. The situation was also tense in Lyon, near the Edouard-Herriot high school, with police firing tear gas at groups of demonstrators. The Students' Union announced that 25 university campuses have also been blockaded in protest. 11:09 French Education Minister: 'Our children on the streets are in danger' An appeal from Education Minister Édouard Geffray to parents amid the student protests that have degenerated into violence and devastation in France. Speaking to BFMTV, Geffray said that "parents must very clearly mobilize and tell their children not to go" to blockades and demonstrations. "Now, what matters is making sure our children are no longer on the streets because they are in danger," warned the minister, who today will receive in Paris several student and parents' associations. Video High school blockades, Education Minister: '40 head teachers injured' 11:04 Situation spirals at the Verlomme high school in Paris Chaos and devastation this morning at the Lycée Roger Verlomme, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, amid the student protests inflaming France seven months ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The situation there "has spiraled. The school's main gate is completely charred and several bicycles have also been burned. About a hundred students are in front of the school, most of them still in shock," wrote Le Figaro Etudiant correspondent Romain Mercier, posting a photo on X of the school's charred gate. According to Le Figaro, the fire broke out after a mortar firework was fired at the high school's gate, but the circumstances of what happened remain unclear. Also according to the newspaper, firefighters intervened quickly to put out the flames and the situation appears to be back under control. 08:58 Student protests in France, 65 school staff injured, including 40 head teachers 40 head teachers were injured during the student protests in France that degenerated into violence and devastation: this was reported by Education Minister Edouard Geffray, interviewed this morning by BFMTV. "Among the 65 public education employees injured, there are 40 head teachers," the minister specified. 09:10 PHOTOS | France, damage and devastation during student protests 08:45 Justice Minister: 'Parents should pay for damage to schools' French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has asked prosecutors to enforce parents' civil liability for damage caused by their children during the protests with high school blockades, in order to make them "pay for the repairs." He said this to RTL microphones. Since the start of the movement, about 2,000 people have been taken into custody - "90% of them minors" - while a third of those detained were held for violence against persons, Gérald Darmanin specified. See also