Student Protests Escalate in France, Two Schools Set on Fire

Student protests in France have intensified over teacher shortages, dilapidated school buildings and a lack of educational facilities. On Wednesday, protesters set fire to at least two schools, while at a third school; teachers were caught in the incident when a student attempted to pour petrol into a rubbish bin. According to authorities, dozens of people have been injured and hundreds arrested during the protests.

According to Reuters, a student at Victor Hugo High School in the southern city of Marseille attempted to pour petrol into a rubbish bin, causing some of the fuel to splash onto several teachers. Initial reports referred to an attack on teachers and said they had been doused with petrol. However, local authorities later described the incident as unintentional. At Saint-Exupéry High School, also in Marseille, hundreds of young people surrounded a fire engine that had arrived to extinguish a blaze. According to police, the protesters forced firefighters away from the vehicle and subsequently set it on fire. Another fire broke out at Nelson Mandela High School in the western city of Nantes. Local authorities said the fire was brought under control and no casualties were reported.

The protests began last week and have since spread from the suburbs of Paris to various cities across France. Students say overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, inadequate educational resources and deteriorating school buildings have adversely affected the learning environment. Some protesters have also accused police of using tear gas and resorting to heavy-handed measures, while authorities have launched investigations into some complaints concerning police conduct. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that, in some locations, disruptive groups were targeting different schools and inciting violence. Meanwhile, Education Minister Édouard Geffray said that online classes could be arranged for schools where students were unable to attend in person. He stressed that violence should not prevent students from exercising their fundamental right to education.

An emergency meeting was also held at the office of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to discuss the protest situation. The education minister has announced plans to meet representatives of teachers’ unions, parents and student associations. The protests are taking place as the French government has announced spending-cut measures in its 2027 budget, which have already drawn criticism.