Paris: Around 400 schools in France are expected to remain closed on Friday after students protest. The students raised concerns about teacher shortages and dilapidated educational facilities.
According to Reuters, protests have been ongoing since last month, spreading nationwide, with reported incidents of injuries and arrests. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin told RTL radio that around 2,000 people have been arrested, with two-thirds placed in police custody. He added that the protesters have been identified as a violent minority, which he himself isn’t sure belongs to the student fraternity.
The protests involved buses being targeted and schools being set ablaze.
French Education Minister Geffray said that over 400 schools and other educational institutions will remain closed on Friday.
According to sources associated with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, intelligence agencies told a crisis meeting that politicians from the hard left, including members of La France Insoumise (LFI), initiated the protests. Meanwhile, LFI lawmaker Louis Boyard denied the claim.
