440 Detained in France Protests Over School Blockades

French police detained 440 people, most of them minors, during protests over school blockades on Monday, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said. About 400 of France’s 3,700 secondary schools were affected. Forty-eight police officers were injured in clashes. Students blocked schools to protest overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and extreme heat in classrooms. The school protests coincided with a public-sector strike over budget cuts, which also drew hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets across the country. The government has condemned the violence and defended its education budget. Student unions said conditions in schools had become unbearable. France’s education system has faced years of pressure over funding and staffing, and the protests reflect growing anger among students and teachers alike. The interior minister said most of those detained were released after questioning. Context: France’s 2027 presidential election is approaching, and the far-right National Rally is leading in polls. Officials said schools were expected to reopen normally on Tuesday.
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