Hundreds of schools across France were fully or partially closed on Monday as teenagers continued to blockade school buildings, while the government struggled to contain the country’s largest youth protest movement in years.
A 15-year-old protester reportedly lost his hand on Monday in the northern city of Lens.
The local newspaper La Voix du Nord reported that the teenager lost his hand after picking up a police smoke grenade.
An investigation into the incident has reportedly been opened.
Student unions have called for a nationwide day of protest on Tuesday, with more schools expected to be blockaded.
Thousands of trade union members, teachers, public-sector workers and parents’ groups are expected to join solidarity marches in cities and towns across France.
The Education Minister said between 400 and 500 secondary schools were expected to be fully or partially closed on Monday, out of a total of 3,700.
The protests began in late September at a secondary school in a Paris suburb over a shortage of teachers.
The government was caught off guard as the protests subsequently spread across the country, amid anger over social inequality and a lack of investment in the education system.
Since last Monday, around 5,000 people, mostly teenagers, have reportedly been arrested across France, while dozens of others have been injured.
