French schools set alight by students in violent protests over teacher shortages and run-down buildings

Students in France have set fire to schools and vehicles, including a fire engine, during increasingly violent protests over teacher shortages and run-down buildings.

Some of the worst unrest was in the southern city of Marseille, France's second-largest, where protesters started fires in at least two high schools, officials said.

Two teachers were accidentally splashed with petrol at the city's Victor Hugo high school, while at the nearby Saint-Exupery high school, hundreds of young people forced firefighters to leave their truck before setting it alight.

Marseille's public transport system was suspended after staff were injured in the clashes.

The Nelson Mandela high school in the western city of Nantes was evacuated after it was set alight, according to mayor's deputy, Olivier Chateau, who told broadcaster franceinfo that the fire was under control and ⁠there had been no injuries.

The facade of a school in Le Havre in the north suffered fire damage, at least one car was torched in the northeastern city of Strasbourg and riot police clashed ‌with youths in Toulouse in the southwest.

In the Parisian ⁠suburb of Saint-Denis, crowds of young people massed in front of a line of police. One student held up
a ​sign that read: "Can we explain ourselves without being teargassed?"

Hundreds of people have been arrested and dozens injured during the protests, which began as a series of demonstrations and blockades around the capital last month.

Thursday's clashes followed a series of deeply unpopular spending ⁠cuts announced by ministers in the 2027 budget earlier in the day.

France's intelligence agencies told ministers on Thursday that hard-left politicians initiated the campaign, according to a source close to the prime minister quoted by Reuters.

The unnamed source said officials pointed to "LFI [France Unbowed] and its proxies on the far left".

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LFI MP Louis Boyard dismissed the accusation, telling BFM TV the group "has always advocated non-violent demonstrations".

Ministers turned it into a political battle "by insulting and repressing high school students", he said.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu held a crisis meeting on Thursday afternoon while French education minister Edouard Geffray ​said he would meet unions, parent associations and ⁠student groups on Friday.

Students have accused the police of using heavy-handed tactics, including the use of tear gas.

The government criticised the violence that ⁠broke out during some of the protests, but said difficulties in ​high schools should be acknowledged and addressed.

(c) Sky News 2026: French schools set alight by students in violent protests over teacher shortages and r