More than 400 schools and other educational establishments in France were to remain closed Friday as student protests over school conditions spread nationwide, Education Minister Edouard Geffray said. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held a crisis meeting Thursday as some demonstrations involved clashes, blockades and fires.
Students have cited teacher and staff shortages, overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating buildings and inadequate learning materials. The protests began at schools in the Paris region and expanded to other cities; university students also joined Thursday, the BBC reported. The interior ministry said 1,949 people were arrested Thursday and 305 police officers were injured, while Deutsche Welle reported about 2,000 arrests and scores of injuries. Ministers called for a day of dialogue, but students called for further strike action, according to Deutsche Welle.