Photos: French protests over school conditions swell

What the report says

Mass rallies in support of French high school students spread across the country on Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on AFP coverage, increasing pressure on President Emmanuel Macron as his term nears its end. The demonstrations followed a student-led movement that began last month, when pupils started blocking school entrances to demand better classroom conditions and broader attention to educational conditions.

The Interior Ministry said about 161,500 people took part nationwide, while unions involved in organizing the protests put turnout at 480,000. Paris saw one of the largest marches, with the ministry estimating 41,500 participants there, and additional protests were reported in cities including Nantes, Lyon, Lens, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Marseille.

Most rallies were peaceful, but Al Jazeera reported violence on the margins of one Paris march. Authorities have opened investigations into dozens of alleged incidents involving protesters, and the Education Ministry said many teaching staff had been injured during the unrest. The reports suggested that a perceived heavy-handed police response helped draw more people into the streets.

Macron urged restraint on Monday, saying the issues needed time, consultation and discussion. The broader dispute matters because it has become a visible test of the government’s handling of public-sector grievances, policing and school conditions.