Key Facts

• Hundreds of schools in France are partly or fully closed due to student protests.
• The protests focus on poor school buildings and lack of teachers.
• A 15-year-old boy in Lens lost his hand after picking up a police stun grenade.
• The French government is reviewing teachers’ absences, school building repairs, and school day length.
• The government has faced criticism for delayed action and budget cuts in education.
• Around 400 to 500 high schools are affected by closures or blockades.
• Thousands of union members, teachers, parents, and public workers plan to support the protests.
• Since the protests began, about 5,000 people, mostly teenagers, have been arrested in France.