France: 400 schools closed as student protests continue

Over 400 schools and colleges across France remained closed on Friday as student protests over education-related grievances continued — with some turning violent. "There are over ⁠400 schools and other educational establishments that I know of that will be closed," confirmed French Education ​Minister Edouard Geffray on broadcaster ​ France 2 late on Thursday night. The protests ​against teacher shortages, dilapidated school buildings and a lack of learning materials erupted at lycées (equivalent to US high schools) in the Paris region last month before spreading across the country this week. Police have made around 2,000 arrests and scores of people have been injured, including 40 high school principals, according to Geffray.