Thousands Join Education Protests in France Amid Claims of Excessive Police Force

Thousands of students, teachers and trade unionists have demonstrated in Paris and several other French cities, demanding better conditions in education.

The protests have brought students and education workers onto the streets around a shared call for improvements, while allegations of excessive force by police have added to tensions.

The government said 215 students and 715 police personnel had been injured since the protests began. The figures represent the government’s account of injuries over the course of the demonstrations.

More than 5,000 people have also been detained, according to the government. The summary figures did not specify how many of those detained were students.

The demonstrations have put education conditions and the policing of public protests at the centre of the dispute, with the reported injuries and detentions underscoring its scale.