France: Over 100 Education Staff Injured During Student Protests, Says Education Minister

PARIS (International Desk): French Education Minister Edouard Geffray said on Friday that more than 100 education staff have been injured since nationwide high school protests began, as blockades by students demanding better conditions continue.
According to Le Parisien, after meeting students and teachers at a high school in Cachan near Paris, Geffray said the number of injured staff had passed 100. He condemned the “unspeakable violence” and praised staff protecting students and school buildings.
Earlier figures recorded 215 students and about 800 police officers and gendarmes injured since the movement began. Interior Ministry data show 71,500 people protested nationwide on Thursday, including 24,500 in Paris, with 504 arrests and 48 police and gendarmes injured that day.
Students are protesting teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, inadequate facilities and school hours. Geffray said 3,024 substitute teachers are being contacted for placement, with extra contract teachers to be recruited. Student unions have nonetheless called another protest day for October 13, and some representatives want to meet Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. Blockades continued Friday in Paris, Rennes and Strasbourg, among other cities.
Paris prosecutors have opened an inquiry after a viral video allegedly showed a police officer kneeing a protester in the face. Cases of alleged police violence referred to the national police inspectorate (IGPN) now number five in Paris and over 21 nationwide. CFDT union leader Marylise Léon welcomed the teacher deployment as a first step but said wider demands remain unresolved and questioned whether the police response was proportionate.