France to shutter up to 500 schools as more student protests called

French education minister cites safety concerns for closures as resumption of protests are called for by organisers.Published On 4 Oct 20264 Oct 2026France plans to fully or partially close up to 500 schools on Monday amid a series of student protests that have become increasingly violent.Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced the precautionary measures on Sunday as part of a bid for a “partial, progressive return to lessons”. However, after a weekend lull, student protestors announced they plan to resume demonstrations – launched last month over complaints regarding class sizes, lack of teachers, and other complaints – early in the week.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4School protests spread as fires, blockades deepen unrest in Francelist 2 of 4Public workers in France strike over pay as student protests turn violentlist 3 of 4What’s behind French student protests that turned violent?list 4 of 4Protests shutter hundreds of French schools as violence flaresend of listLessons will be “totally or partly suspended” in some “400-500” high schools as the security conditions “have not been fulfilled”, the minister said. He added that 24 schools had been “burned or rans...