The number of people detained in high school protests across France has risen to 1,793 since 28 September, according to the French Justice Ministry.

The protests, which began around the Paris region before spreading to different parts of the country, were organized by high school students demanding improvements in education conditions, more resources for schools, additional staff and better learning environments.

French Education Minister Édouard Geffray said in an interview with France 2 that more than 400 educational institutions would remain closed due to the demonstrations. He added that students in affected schools would continue their lessons through online education.

Protests spread across France

The demonstrations, which initially focused on issues such as teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and poor school infrastructure, expanded nationwide after beginning in the Paris area.

According to French authorities, the protests affected 1,027 of the country's approximately 3,700 high schools. Local authorities also introduced restrictions on demonstrations outside some schools that were closed due to security concerns.

Hundreds injured during unrest

Geffray said that 65 education staff members and 170 students were injured during the demonstrations, claiming that the movement had been taken over by groups advocating extreme violence.

"This high school movement has been taken hostage by an extremely violent movement," Geffray said, calling for calm and arguing that violent incidents threatened public services.

The Interior Ministry reported that 1,949 people were processed during the latest demonstrations, while 305 police officers and gendarmes were injured in a single day. Authorities also reported clashes, property damage and violent incidents in some cities during the protests.

Government under pressure

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held crisis discussions over the spreading unrest, while the government faced growing pressure to address both the education-related complaints and the violence accompanying some demonstrations.

French authorities said dialogue with student representatives would continue, while security measures would remain in place to prevent further disruptions at schools.(ILKHA)