French students renew school blockades as education minister invites representatives for talks

French high school and university students renewed protests Thursday as Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced 3,000 substitute teachers would join schools from Friday.

Geffray said 114 high schools were in a “red” situation due to severe teacher shortages, while 400 others were classified as “orange” and facing staffing pressure.

He told the TF1 broadcaster that “3,000 teachers will join these schools in the coming hours.”

“I will authorize school district authorities to recruit more than what is currently authorized,” he added.

The government has also received 66,000 contributions through a platform launched to collect high school students’ demands, said Geffray, up from 40,000 earlier Thursday. The demands include 250,000 additional university places and an end to selection through the Parcoursup admissions platform.

More than 130,000 demonstrators took part in Thursday’s mobilization nationwide, according to the CGT trade union. The Interior Ministry put the figure at 71,500, including 24,500 in Paris.

The Interior Ministry said 504 people were arrested Thursday and reported “an increase in urban violence.” Nearly 50 police officers and gendarmes were also injured, it said.

Three more minors were placed under formal investigation following an assault on a police officer in Belfort during the protests, according to the prosecutor’s office.

A new day of mobilization and strikes has been called for Oct. 13 by student and education unions.