Students in France clash with riot police amid weekslong education protests

Students in France have been protesting for over four weeks, starting in Paris and spreading across the country. The demonstrations began due to grievances such as overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, long school days, and deteriorating conditions. As of October 13, more than 5,000 people had been arrested since September 28, according to the interior ministry. On Tuesday, about 161,500 protesters, including teachers and union supporters, joined rallies in cities like Paris, Lyon, Nantes, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Marseille. The protests have become increasingly violent, with students throwing projectiles at police who responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets; over 147 teaching staff members have been injured.