The frustration in France over conditions in public schools has turned into mass protests all over the country. 

What started as a small protest in a Parisian suburb to advocate for better working conditions for teachers erupted into large-scale protests nationwide, where hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and trade unionists took to the streets to demand more funding for education.

The protesters want big changes in their schools. Many sit in overcrowded, crumbling classrooms, of which some are infested with rats. There is a teacher shortage so serious that a class might be canceled if the teacher is absent, according to CNN.

French students are frustrated by growing class sizes, with some classes having as many as 40 students, according to the BBC. When school enrollment increases, there are not enough new teachers to create more classes.

French classrooms are uncomfortable places to work even before taking class sizes into account. BBC reported that school buildings are far too cold in the colder months and far too hot in the warmer months.

The ever-growing frustration with the public school system along with France’s culture of protest has caused these protests to break out.

There have been conflicts between protesters and the police. Large groups of protesters set up blockades outside high schools and universities, and the national police were dispatched to quell the unrest.

In Lyon, police used tear gas on protesters who were setting fires in the streets, according to The New York Times. The police’s use of tear gas and water cannons has been documented nationwide during these protests.

Since the protests began in late September, over 6000 arrests have been made. There is concern over the magnitude of the police’s response to the protests, as there have been several incidents of serious injuries occurring. According to Time, one 15-year-old boy’s hand was blown off by a police grenade. Another altercation ended with a 16-year-old losing his sight in one eye, likely from being struck by a defensive bullet, according to France 24.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has denied claims that the government had sent the police to stop the protests. He has condemned the violence brought by the protests, and he has agreed to organize talks between students and school officials so that students can make their complaints known.

The Ministry of Education has also set up an online system allowing students to make their grievances about the school system known to government officials. 

The French government is currently trying to pass a budget with which it aims to decrease the nation’s deficit. The dissonance between the protesters’ demands and Paris’ plan to decrease government spending should only increase political tension.

This political crisis is going on mere months before the next presidential election scheduled for April 18, 2027. As incumbent President Emmanuel Macron has already served two consecutive terms, he is ineligible to run next year. Both the far-right Marine Le Pen and far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon are expected to do well in this election.

According to NPR, these protests are expected to continue until the government meets their demands.