France school protests escalate into unrest as prime minister convenes crisis meeting

A wave of protests by French high-school students has escalated sharply, with the government warning of "urban violence" as demonstrations, blockades and related incidents spread to schools across the country.

The French government said about 900 such incidents were under way nationwide, as a protest movement that began over long school hours, teacher shortages and deteriorating facilities has grown rapidly since first emerging in the Paris region roughly a week ago.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu called a crisis cabinet meeting on Thursday in response to the escalating unrest, instructing ministers to cancel their travel plans so they could focus on managing the situation.

Schools shift to online learning

In response to the scale of the disruption, the government said a number of schools would move to online classes as a precaution, aiming to protect both teachers and students amid the unrest.

The protests began as a response to specific grievances raised by students, including concerns about excessive school hours, a shortage of teaching staff, and the poor condition of school buildings and facilities. What started as a localized movement in and around Paris has since spread nationally, with the government now describing the situation as having snowballed well beyond its original scope.

Officials have not yet detailed the specific measures that will emerge from the crisis cabinet meeting, but the decision to convene ministers and cancel travel underscores the level of concern within the government about the pace at which the unrest has spread. The situation remains fluid, with authorities continuing to monitor developments at schools around the country.