France arrests 1,949 in school protests

French high-school protests over overcrowding, staff shortages and deteriorating buildings spread nationwide. Blockades, fires and clashes occurred at schools, and university students joined. Authorities made arrests and reported injuries among police officers, teachers and pupils. The prime minister held an emergency meeting as officials described some violence as beyond legitimate protest.

• 1,949Arrests made on Thursday — Interior ministry figure
• 305Police officers reported injured — Thursday’s unrest
• 1,027Lycées affected by demonstrations — Including 222 blockades

Q1

Who attends the affected schools?

The affected lycées serve secondary-school pupils, and university students later joined the demonstrations over related education concerns nationwide.

Q2

Why did protests spread?

Students cite crowded classes, missing teachers, poor materials, decaying buildings and long school days, grievances first raised in the Paris region.

Q3

How has schooling been affected?

Blockades disrupted schools nationwide, regional authorities closed some campuses, and university students joined demonstrations in Paris, Marseille and other cities.

Q4

What has the government done?

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held an emergency meeting, while officials closed some schools and described violence as beyond legitimate protest.