The escalation follows a wave of violence where police used tear gas and students set fire to facilities, including a €75 million public school in Nantes. The Ministry of Education reported that lessons were disrupted at 413 high schools on Monday, and a total of 24 institutions have been burned or ransacked since the unrest began. More than 5,000 people, primarily minors, have been arrested, and a 15 year old student in Lens recently lost a hand after picking up a police grenade.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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French Teacher Unions Join Students for Hundreds of Tuesday School Closures
World15 days ago
Education professionals and pupils are coordinating a nationwide strike to force the government to increase funding for decaying infrastructure and staff shortages. Teacher unions have formally joined a movement initially led by students, broadening the scope of a campaign that will result in the closure of numerous secondary institutions across France on Tuesday. The alliance is demanding smaller class sizes and a reversal of the current deterioration of learning environments.
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