France has suspended high school classes for the rest of the week after student protests over underfunded schools spiraled into violent clashes with police across the country.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the suspension on Tuesday, October 6, as the movement entered its second week, Al Jazeera reported. Authorities estimated about 250,000 people took part in demonstrations, while organizers put the number closer to 500,000.

How the Protests Began

The movement started in late September at Lycée Saint-Exupéry, a high school near Paris, where students complained about missing teachers and run-down facilities. It quickly spread across the Paris region and then nationwide.

Students say their schools are falling apart. They describe overcrowded classrooms with 35 or more students, not enough desks or chairs, water leaks, too few toilets and classrooms that overheat after Europe's brutal summer heat waves.

Teacher shortages are another major complaint. Nearly 10% of teaching hours went untaught during the 2024-2025 school year, according to Time, much of it because schools could not find substitutes.

"For a whole year, we didn't have a science teacher," one 15-year-old told CBS News.

Students are also calling for longer lunch breaks, changes to the school day and more transparency in Parcoursup, France's university admissions system.

Fires, Tear Gas and Mass Arrests

What began as peaceful school blockades turned violent last week. Protesters set fires and threw projectiles, while riot police used tear gas and other crowd-control weapons. Clashes have been reported in Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon, Rennes and other cities.

Nearly 2,000 high schools have been blockaded or closed, according to Al Jazeera. More than 100 schools have been severely damaged, and fires damaged the entrances of two Paris schools.

The Interior Ministry says about 6,100 people have been arrested, most of them minors. More than 1,800 face prosecution, including 1,483 juveniles.

Officials have reported 215 injured teenagers and more than 700 injured police officers. In the northern town of Lens, a 15-year-old lost his hand after reportedly picking up a police grenade during clashes on Monday.

Student protesters have accused police of excessive force. Amnesty International has criticized authorities for using "disproportionate force against minors," and the Interior Ministry has opened three investigations into police conduct, according to WISH-TV.

How the Government Is Responding

Lecornu has ordered his ministers to address student demands by the end of the month and promised to look at repairing school buildings. He also made clear that the violence must stop.

"Burning down a high school does not improve the state of high school buildings," Lecornu said.

Days earlier, he announced five initiatives covering class availability, building improvements, school schedules, Parcoursup transparency and new ways for students to share their input.

President Emmanuel Macron said "none of these debates legitimizes violence," while warning that young people are putting themselves in danger in the streets. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said the movement was "being held hostage by ultra-violent fringe groups."

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has proposed making parents financially responsible for damage caused by their children, an idea that left-wing politicians rejected. The government has also blamed the hard-left France Unbowed party for fueling the unrest, which party officials deny.

What Happens Next

Labor unions called nationwide protests on Tuesday in support of the high school students, adding pressure on the government.

Damage is already estimated at about 7 million euros in the Paris region alone and 3 million euros in the southern Occitanie region.

The unrest comes as French political parties gear up for the country's next presidential election, and the government is under pressure to show results before the end of the month.

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