More than 250,000 people took part in rallies across France on 6 October, according to official figures — not only pupils, but also teachers and parents. It was the largest turnout of protesters demanding better learning conditions, The Guardian reports.
In some places, the rallies were accompanied by unrest. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said at least 215 pupils and 85 school staff were injured.
According to local media, President Emmanuel Macron summoned key ministers to a meeting at his residence in the middle of the night.
56,000 people joined the rally in Paris, with another 200,000 in other cities, including Marseille, Nantes and Lyon. Organisers put the number of participants higher — at 450,000.
Most demonstrations ended without serious incidents, but some — particularly in Paris — concluded with sporadic vandalism and clashes with riot police: officers used tear gas and dispersed protesters with batons.
Almost 500 people were detained on Tuesday, according to figures from the Interior Ministry cited by the newspaper Libération. The ministry also reported that 43 police officers were injured.
Protests by secondary school pupils in France have been continuing since last month. Teenagers are calling for improvements to learning conditions. Among the main complaints are a shortage of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and unbearable heat in classrooms.