French schools shutter as student protests escalate nationwide

France's education system faced significant disruption Monday as hundreds of schools closed their doors amid ongoing student protests. Education Minister Edouard Geffray indicated that around 500 institutions would be affected, either shutting entirely or operating at reduced capacity. The closures reflected the scale of mobilization among France's student population, which has maintained pressure through sustained demonstrations. The nature of the students' grievances and specific demands remained central to the unfolding situation, as education authorities grappled with the impact on the academic calendar and millions of families. Geffray's statement suggested the closures could extend beyond a single day, with schools assessing conditions before determining when normal operations might resume. The minister did not immediately announce government measures to address the underlying issues prompting the protests, leaving uncertainty about when education might return to normal across the affected regions.