France Student Protests Intensify Nationwide

France faced widespread high-school blockades and union-backed demonstrations on Tuesday as students stepped up pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government over teacher shortages, deteriorating school buildings and education conditions.

Teenagers erected barricades outside schools across major cities, including Lille, Marseille, Strasbourg, Nantes and Paris. In the capital, protesters carried banners demanding that authorities listen to students as demonstrations entered their third week.

The movement began in disadvantaged Paris suburbs before expanding nationwide. Authorities have deployed riot police, arguing that parts of the protests have escalated into urban violence.

Tensions intensified on Monday when a 15-year-old suffered severe injuries during clashes in northern France. Regional newspaper La Voix du Nord reported that the teenager lost a hand and part of his lower arm after picking up a police dispersal grenade. Pas-de-Calais prefect François-Xavier Lauch declined to confirm the circumstances but said roughly 200 to 250 protesters had thrown objects at police.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has instructed ministers to address students’ main concerns, including replacing absent teachers, reconsidering school days that can run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., providing longer lunch breaks and repairing ageing school facilities. Ministers have been asked to submit initial proposals by the end of October.

Funding the measures could prove difficult as France struggles with a widening budget deficit, weak economic growth and rising debt. French 10-year government bond yields briefly climbed above 5% last week, reaching a 24-year high and adding to concerns across euro-area markets.

The Justice Ministry said 5,060 people have been arrested since the unrest began, with 87% of those detained being minors. More than 1,800 people face prosecution, including 1,483 minors. At least 715 police officers and 215 teenagers have been injured.

With France's presidential election six months away, the protests have also become politically charged. The government and Marine Le Pen’s National Rally have accused hard-left France Unbowed politicians of encouraging the unrest, an allegation the party denies.