French school protests widen as teen loses hand; national day of action looms

· Politics · France

Student protests over learning conditions spread across France, with more than 400 of the country's 3,700 high schools partially or totally closed on Monday, the education ministry said. A 15-year-old boy lost a hand, apparently while picking up a police tear gas grenade, adding to concerns over the police response. More than 70 schoolteachers have been injured since unrest began in late September over teacher shortages, and nearly 200 students have been hurt. Larger demonstrations are expected Tuesday. Far-right figures have shared false videos portraying the protests as an anti-white or Islamist uprising.

Why it matters：Sustained youth unrest and injuries test France's education funding and policing, with political fallout ahead of a national protest day.

Key points

  • Over 400 of France's 3,700 high schools were shut or partly closed on Monday.
  • A 15-year-old lost a hand, apparently from a police tear gas grenade.
  • More than 70 teachers have been injured since protests began in late September.

Sources (original reporting)

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