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ABC NewsAcross France, more than a quarter of a million people rallied to support school pupils demanding more education funding, according to government figures. The protests began at a high school in the Paris region in mid-September have grown into a nationwide movement. Demonstrators have voiced a range of grievances, often centering on a lack of resources and opportunities for students in disadvantaged schools. Students have drawn attention to rundown classrooms that lack basics such as desks and chairs, become sweltering in summer without air conditioning and, in some cases, are infested with rats. Since last week, over 700 police and security officers, and at least 215 students and demonstrators have been injured, according to the Ministry of National Education. In total, 6,547 arrests have been made since September 28, according to the government.
On the profile · Oct 6, 2026