France High School Protests Intensify as 15-Year-Old Loses Hand in Police Grenade Blast

Demonstrations over teacher shortages and deteriorating school facilities spread nationwide, with hundreds of schools disrupted and thousands detained.

PARIS: France’s widening high school protest movement took a grim turn this week after a 15-year-old student suffered a devastating hand injury during a confrontation with police in the northern city of Lens.

The incident occurred on Monday as security forces moved to clear a blockade outside a high school. According to a police union source cited by AFP, the teenager picked up a stun grenade deployed by police,e and it exploded in his hand.

French authorities confirmed that the student had suffered the injury, while an investigation has been opened into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The injury has become a focal point in a protest movement that began with complaints about the state of France’s secondary schools. Students have been demanding more teachers, better-maintained buildings and improvements to classroom conditions.

The demonstrations, which initially centred on schools in the Paris region, have since spread to cities across the country.

The scale of the disruption has grown rapidly. Hundreds of schools have been closed or partially affected, with the Education Ministry saying that between 400 and 500 establishments were facing closures or disruptions at the beginning of the week.

The protests have also moved beyond peaceful school blockades in several locations. Authorities have reported fires, property damage and clashes between young demonstrators and police.

Reuters reported that more than 5,000 people had been arrested during the unrest, while the number of injured students has also risen.

Students demand changes in schools.ls

At the heart of the movement are complaints about vacant teaching posts, overcrowded or poorly maintained classrooms and demanding school schedules. Students have also raised concerns about buildings that struggle to cope with high temperatures and inadequate resources.

The protests began in September and gradually developed into a nationwide mobilisation. School entrances have been blocked in numerous towns, forcing authorities to suspend classes at hundreds of institutions.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray has acknowledged that the movement originated from genuine concerns but has condemned the violence and damage accompanying some demonstrations.

The government has indicated that it intends to address the issues raised by students while attempting to restore order around schools.

Political dispute grows around protests.

The unrest has also acquired a political dimension. Government-linked officials have alleged that politicians from the hard left, including figures associated with La France Insoumise, helped initiate or encourage the movement.

Those allegations have been rejected by representatives of the party. The dispute has added another layer to an already tense situation, with the protests unfolding months before France’s next presidential election.

Paris police chief Patrice Faure has described the movement as having spiralled “out of control” and called for a return to peaceful demonstrations. Police officials have also pointed to injuries among security personnel and significant property damage.

The response by security forces has itself become a major issue. Rights groups, unions and student protesters have accused police of using excessive force. Several investigations have been opened into incidents involving injured students.

The Lens incident has further intensified scrutiny of police tactics. Following the teenager’s injury, the use of the particular grenade involved was suspended as a precaution, according to French media reports.

Despite government efforts to contain the unrest, high school students continued blockades and demonstrations into the third week. The challenge for authorities now is to address the education grievances that triggered the movement while preventing further violence on the streets.