France suspends secondary classes nationwide amid protests

France suspended secondary-school timetables nationwide from October 7 through at least the weekend so head teachers can hold what the government calls internal democratic discussions with students. Protests that began September 21 in the Paris region over poor buildings, overcrowding and teacher shortages had already halted lessons in hundreds of schools; on October 6 classes were cancelled in 891 of 3,700 lycées. Sébastien Lecornu told the National Assembly that 215 pupils, 85 education staff and 715 officers had been injured. The interior ministry reported more than 5,000 arrests, 85% of them children. About 300 people tried to attack officers near Place de la Nation in Paris and riot units used tear gas; a Lyon march of 20,000-25,000 left at least 11 injured, nine of them police. Organisers claimed roughly 450,000 demonstrators nationwide. Lecornu condemned violence, saying "Burning down a high school does not improve the state of high school buildings. Attacking a teacher does not help replace teachers," rejected claims of ordered police repression as a lie, and accused La France Insoumise, linked to Manuel Bompard and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, of a political agenda to throw the country into chaos ahead of 2027. The National Consultative Commission on Human Rights expressed deep concern at disproportionate police force. Geffray is to meet pupil and student representatives; Gérald Darmanin urged prosecutors to seek parental payment for damage.