Nearly 400 high schools across France were expected to remain closed on Friday, October 2, following a week of student protests that have spread from the Paris region to several parts of the country.

The demonstrations, largely involving teenagers attending the final years of secondary education, have disrupted academic activities as students demand improvements in school facilities, teaching conditions and the general learning environment.

The protest movement began in the Paris region in September before spreading to other cities. Students have reportedly blocked school entrances and staged demonstrations, with some confrontations escalating into clashes with security personnel.

Their complaints include excessively long school schedules, overcrowded classrooms, inadequate facilities, overheated learning environments and persistent shortages of teachers and other school staff.

The situation has raised concerns among education authorities, particularly following reports of violence, property damage and injuries during some of the demonstrations.

France's Education Minister, Édouard Geffray, said nearly 400 schools out of approximately 3,700 across the country were expected to be affected by closures on Friday. Some institutions have also made arrangements for remote learning to minimise disruption to students' education.

Geffray acknowledged that students had legitimate concerns but criticised the violence associated with parts of the protest movement. He argued that a minority of violent participants had taken advantage of the demonstrations, putting students and school personnel at risk.

According to figures reported by French media on Thursday, October 1, approximately 1,949 people had been arrested since the protests began. The figures also indicated that 65 members of school staff and 170 students had been injured, alongside hundreds of police officers and gendarmes.

The government has expressed particular concern about the safety of young people participating in the demonstrations, with the Education Minister urging parents to discourage their children from taking part in activities that could expose them to danger.

Justice Minister GĂ©rald Darmanin has also called for accountability over damage linked to the unrest. He said prosecutors had been asked to examine the possibility of holding parents financially responsible for damage caused by their children during the protests.

The growing unrest prompted Prime Minister SĂ©bastien Lecornu to convene a crisis meeting with government officials to discuss the situation and coordinate a response.

While authorities have condemned violent incidents, the protests have continued to draw attention to longstanding concerns about resources, staffing and the quality of education in some French schools.

The unfolding situation presents a challenge for the French government as it seeks to restore normal academic activities while addressing the grievances raised by students.

With hundreds of schools affected and investigations continuing into reported violence, attention is now focused on whether discussions between the authorities, school representatives and students can help ease tensions and prevent further disruption.