Fires erupt at French schools amid nationwide student protests
On Tuesday, arson set off by protesting students sparked flames at two high schools in Nantes and another in Rouen, setting alarms into motion across the country. A bin engulfed in flames ignited a blaze that quickly spread through the front entrance of the Nelson Mandela high school, damaging its entrance hall.
The demonstrations that have begun to block schools nationwide stem from long‑standing complaints about teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and deteriorating facilities. University students aligned with the student union to bolster the movement, demanding more resources for their campuses.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting Thursday, and officials later labelled the unrest as "urban violence." A separate incident in Marseille saw petrol‑laden containers splashed onto staff at Victor Hugo high school, while in Auchel a headteacher was injured by a stray firework during a protest.
The protests, now in more than 600 schools and 30 universities—including Rennes and Paris—have led to 625 arrests on Wednesday alone and 83 police officers wounded. By midday Thursday, total arrests surpassed 600, excluding Paris. Public transport services in Marseille and Strasbourg were halted to protect commuters and curb further demonstrations.
Seventeen‑year‑old Raphael joined the protest outside a Strasbourg school, blocking tram tracks with a barricade. He told AFP that "the building is falling apart, the cafeteria is too small. There's zero budget, zero resources, not enough supervisors." His remarks echo the frustrations of thousands of students across the nation.
The protests have become a flashpoint for political division. Right‑wing leaders accuse left‑wing supporters of inciting violence, while the left insists that concerns must be addressed without resorting to aggression. The debate now centers on how to resolve deep educational inequities while restoring public confidence in the school system.
