France school protests turn violent as headteacher is doused with petrol
France’s nationwide high-school protests escalated sharply on Thursday after a headteacher in Marseille was doused with petrol during a confrontation at a school, as violence and blockades spread across the country.
The incident, reported by Reuters and The Jerusalem Post, came amid growing unrest over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, poor infrastructure and wider concerns about education funding.
The attack took place at Victor Hugo High School in Marseille, where the headteacher was targeted during the unrest and suffered injuries, according to the local prosecutor’s office.
Authorities did not immediately provide further details about the nature or severity of the injuries. The incident was among several serious episodes reported across France on Thursday.
Fire Truck Set Ablaze In Marseille
In Marseille, violence also erupted around Saint-Exupéry High School, where a group surrounded a fire truck that had arrived to extinguish a blaze. Police said firefighters were forced to flee before the vehicle was set on fire.
In Nantes, another fire broke out at Nelson Mandela High School, although officials said there were no reported injuries there.
Protests Spread Across France
The protests began in the Paris region last week and have since spread to cities across France.
Students have raised concerns over teacher shortages, class sizes, long timetables, deteriorating school buildings and the pressures associated with the national university admissions system Parcoursup.
Le Monde reported that about 180 schools had been disrupted earlier in the week as the movement expanded beyond the Paris region.
Hundreds arrested as unrest escalates
The scale of the unrest has also increased. Reuters reported that hundreds of people had been arrested and dozens injured, while French authorities said troublemakers were moving between schools to encourage further disruption.
By Thursday, reports from France indicated that the mobilisation had expanded to universities as well.
French Government calls crisis meeting
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting as the government faced mounting pressure over the unrest and its proposed 2027 budget.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray said legitimate grievances over schools should be heard but condemned violence, while urging schools to shift to remote teaching where protesters prevented safe access to campuses.
The confrontation has turned the education protests into a major national political and security issue, with the government seeking to contain violence while acknowledging concerns over France’s public-school system.
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