France: Up to 500 Schools to Stay Closed Monday as Student Protest Arrests Top 5,000

France's education minister said up to 500 schools across the country will remain partially or fully closed on Monday, as the government moves to manage the fallout from a wave of student protests.

The unrest has led to the arrest of at least 5,000 people, the majority of them teenagers, according to the minister. Dozens of people, including both students and teachers, have been injured in connection with the protests.

Scale of the disruption

The number of schools affected points to the geographic breadth of the protest movement, which has disrupted the school week for students in numerous parts of the country. Officials have not detailed how long the closures are expected to last beyond Monday.

The scale of arrests — more than 5,000 people, predominantly teenagers — underscores the extent of the law enforcement response to the demonstrations, while the reported injuries among both students and teachers highlight the volatility around some protest sites.

Government response

The education minister's update came as part of a wider briefing on the unfolding situation, with authorities continuing to monitor developments at schools nationwide. No further details have been provided on specific measures planned to address the underlying causes of the protests or to prevent further closures.