Riot police are clashing with students in France, with an estimated 260,000 people taking to the streets to protest school conditions.
Tear gas has been fired at protesters blockading French high schools as students, teachers and parents turn out for the biggest day of demonstrations against understaffed and dilapidated classrooms so far.
In Marseille and Nantes, protesters held up signs marked with “The state has killed national education” and other messages, in largely peaceful rallies. In Paris, up to 40,000 people were expected to join a march through the capital’s streets.
But in Strasbourg, Lyon and Rennes, the demonstrations at times turned violent, with protesters lighting fires in the streets and hurling projectiles.
It comes after a week of increasingly violent nationwide protests that have seen more than 5,000 people arrested.
A total of 215 students and 85 education staff have been injured so far since the protests started, according to the French prime minister. In one incident on Monday, a 15-year-old student had their hand blown off after picking up a stun grenade being used by police.
Some 2,000 schools across the country have been blockaded during Tuesday’s demonstrations, with 891 high schools having lessons completely or partially suspended.
In pictures: Students and riot police clash in Paris
French prime minister announces classes to be suspended until Friday
France's prime minister has said classes will be suspended from tomorrow morning through to Friday.
Sébastien Lecornu was addressing the unrest across the country in parliament this afternoon.
This is to “allow each management team, each headteacher, to have time for internal democracy within high schools,” Lecornu told delegates at the National Assembly.
He also denounced the “extreme violence” that he said has been knocking "on the door of high schools", which he "condemned unconditionally".
A total of 215 students and 85 education staff have been injured so far since the protests started, according to Lecornu.
Watch: Tear gas deployed as French school protesters clash with police
In pictures: Parents and MPs join students in protesting school conditions
Parents have joined students in voicing their anger over overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and dilapidated school buildings across France.
In Paris, a woman wearing a white helmet holds a placard reading "supportive parents" during a demonstration, which was also joined by MPs, including Ecologiste et Social's MP Alexis Corbiere, and French director, screenwriter and actress Laetitia Dosch.
Crowds of students chanting and clapping in central Paris
Huge crowds are seen chanting, clapping, and holding placards in Place de la République, central Paris.
Up to 40,000 people are expected to march through the streets of Paris today.
An estimated 260,000 people – including students, teachers, and parents – have taken to streets across France today to protest what they say are worsening school conditions; teacher shortages, dilapidated buildings, and overcrowded classrooms.
Some of the protests around the country have turned violent with bins set on fire and tear gas fired by riot police, while others have remained peaceful.
2,000 schools shut across France, say student union
2,000 schools have been shut across the country, according to the union for secondary school students, Union Syndicale Lycéenne (USL), one of the major organisers of the protests.
This contrasts with figures reported by the French education ministry earlier today which said that 891 schools have had classes suspended, either totally or partially.
Why Gen Z is setting fire to France’s classrooms
Student and teacher grievances are real: school days run past 6pm, classes overflow with 35 or more pupils, absent teachers go unreplaced, buildings are decrepit and staff are badly paid. The issue is who is exploiting it, says Emma-Kate Symons:
In pictures: Tens of thousands take to streets of French cities to protest
Watch: French high school protests over school conditions spread nationwide
