Heading to France? Amid recent unrest, here’s what to know

French students are leading nationwide protests over poor school conditions, including teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and crumbling facilities. The demonstrations, which began last month, have drawn more than 160,000 protesters in a single day, with subsequent waves of unrest attracting up to 550,000 participants across the country. The protests, now broadening beyond education issues to include concerns over high living costs and social inequality, have turned violent, resulting in mass arrests (2,000+) and injuries (1,000 police officers). President Emmanuel Macron has struggled to address these grievances effectively, leaving his final months in office marked by significant unrest.