France: Student protests over conditions at French high schools fuel political clashes

Student protests spread to high schools across France on Monday, resulting in dozens of injuries, over 160 arrests and arguments between senior politicians — a day ahead of a nationwide strike by public sector workers and seven months ahead of the presidential election. Teenagers at French lycées (equivalent to US high schools) have been blockading their schools since last week in protest at overcrowded classes, heavy workloads, poor quality learning materials and teacher shortages. The movement began in the Ile-de-France region around the capital, Paris , but on Monday spread to other regions including Lille in the north, Marseille in the south and Sedan in the east.