French Student Protests Disrupt Nearly 900 Schools Amid Police Crackdowns

What changed

French student protests have disrupted almost 900 secondary schools and some universities at various times over recent weeks. Authorities and police have increasingly moved to break up the blockades with baton charges and tear gas.

Why it matters

This is no longer only a dispute playing out in classrooms or campus courtyards. It is now affecting the basic operation of schools across France, while the police response is becoming more forceful.

That creates a sharper confrontation: students are using disruption to make their protest impossible to ignore, and the authorities are using coercive measures to restore access. The immediate outlook depends on whether schools reopen without further clashes or whether more closures bring another escalation.