French Schools Ablaze as Student Protests Against Education Reforms Escalate

Fires have been reported at schools across France as student protests against proposed education reforms escalate. The unrest has seen thousands of students take to the streets, with demonstrations in several cities leading to clashes and property damage.

The French government convened an emergency meeting to address the growing unrest. Students are primarily protesting new regulations that they argue will limit access to higher education and disproportionately affect disadvantaged pupils.

Reports indicate that bins were set alight outside Lycée Henri-Bergson in Paris, while similar incidents occurred at institutions in Seine-Saint-Denis. Police were deployed to manage crowds, and several arrests have been made as the protests spread from initial student-led actions to broader public engagement. The proposed reforms aim to streamline university admissions, a move critics contend will introduce a selective, rather than merit-based, system.