France to shut down around 500 schools

Paris : France plans to fully or partly close up to 500 high schools on Monday as authorities prepare for renewed student protests over staffing shortages, class sizes and other school-related grievances.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray said between 400 and 500 schools could suspend classes because security conditions had not been met. He said 24 schools had been burned or ransacked since the protests began.

The demonstrations, which started in the Paris region in September, have spread across France, leading to school blockades, strikes and clashes with police.

Geffray said at least 170 students and 78 education workers had been injured since the protests began. About 400 of France's 3,700 high schools were closed on Friday, while another 560 faced protests or other disruptions.

Student groups have called for large demonstrations to resume on Tuesday, saying the government has failed to offer concrete measures to address their demands.

The protests began over a shortage of teachers, large classes and concerns about long school days. They have since become increasingly violent, with authorities reporting thousands of arrests, most involving minors.

Rights groups have criticised the police response, while Geffray accused far-left activists of entering the student movement and contributing to the violence.

The government has described the planned school closures as a precaution while seeking a gradual return to normal classes.