France shuts up to 500 schools amid protests
France ordered lessons to be fully or partly suspended at up to 500 high schools on Monday after several days of student protests. Demonstrators cited teacher shortages, long school days, overcrowding and deteriorating facilities, while some protests led to clashes with riot police. Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced the closures, with further protests expected.
Why it matters
The scale of the closures shows a local dispute over school conditions growing into a national political challenge.
Sources
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Part of the October 5, 2026 brief.