France deploys 3,000 substitute teachers as nationwide student protests enter third week

French authorities announced the immediate deployment of 3,000 substitute teachers on Thursday to address critical shortages as mass student protests continue nationwide. The movement has resulted in more than 6,600 arrests and the closure of hundreds of schools amid reports of police brutality and crumbling facilities.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced on TF1 television that 3,000 substitute teachers will be sent to struggling high schools within hours. Despite this move, student and professional unions have called for further mobilizations on October 13 and 17. The protesters are demanding increased funding, smaller class sizes, and repairs for dilapidated buildings, with the New York Times reporting the movement has entered its third week.

Violence flared on Thursday at the Hélène Boucher high school in Paris, where students used garbage bins to barricade the entrance before police deployed tear gas. According to Deutsche Welle, approximately 71,500 people participated in Thursday's nationwide demonstrations. At Place de la Bastille, riot police used water cannons and batons to clear crowds, while hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon declared the site "retaken" by the youth movement.

The Interior Ministry confirmed that over 6,600 people, mostly under the age of 18, have been detained since late September. Fox News reported that 215 students and 85 staff members have been injured during the unrest, including a 16-year-old who lost an eye. On Wednesday, the government suspended the use of stun grenades after an incident in which a teenager's hand was blown off.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the vandalism, noting that 24 schools have been burned or ransacked. While the government has promised a full response to the crisis by the end of October, France 24 reported that pressure remains high on the outgoing administration of President Emmanuel Macron. At least 375 schools were reported fully or partially closed on Thursday due to the ongoing disruptions.

Background

The protests began on September 17 in the Paris suburbs over issues such as overcrowded classrooms, long school days, and teacher absences. The movement has since expanded into a broader campaign against the degradation of the French education system and the police response to student demonstrators.