About 400 schools in France expected to remain closed after student protest violence

Paris, France. About 400 schools and other educational establishments in France are expected to remain closed on Friday after student protests over education-related grievances escalated into violence in some areas.

Closures follow spreading protests

French Education Minister Edouard Geffray told broadcaster France 2 late Thursday that he knew of “a little over 400 schools and other educational establishments” that would be closed.

The protests began in the Paris region last month over teacher shortages and dilapidated school buildings. They have become increasingly violent as they spread nationwide, leaving dozens injured and prompting hundreds of arrests by police.

Claim over political involvement disputed

According to sources close to Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, intelligence agencies told a crisis meeting on Thursday that politicians from the hard left, including members of La France Insoumise (LFI), had initiated the protest movement.

LFI lawmaker Louis Boyard denied the claim in comments to French broadcasters.

Fires and clashes reported

Student protesters started fires at at least two high schools on Thursday, officials said. Teachers were inadvertently splashed with petrol at a third school in the southern city of Marseille.

At least one car was torched in Strasbourg in eastern France, while riot police clashed with youths in Toulouse in the southwest.