French PM warns against escalation of school protests after 164 arrested
Students are protesting over issues such as overcrowded classes, but the prime minister has condemned reports of violence.
France's Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has warned that any escalation in the country's current wave of student protests would be "irresponsible", following the arrests of 164 people on Monday.
The demonstrations, which started in Paris and have seen teenagers blockading their schools for days, stem from issues including overcrowded classes and teacher shortages.
Lecornu cited reported incidents at protests in a post on X, saying: "Fireworks, fires, violence near high schools: nothing justifies endangering students, staff, or police officers."
"Lack of teachers and staff, dilapidated schools, overcrowded schedules and classes, stress caused by Parcoursup [the web platform used in France for students to apply to the first year of higher education]... These issues are by no means inevitable, but simply the result of 10 years of Macron's policies and the lack of resources in the national education system," it said.