Riot police clash with students as education protests rage in France

More than 600 schools have faced disruption as protests over standards and lack of teachers continue.

Riot police have clashed with protesters as thousands of students demonstrating over education standards disrupted more than 700 schools in France on Friday.

Fires have burned in the streets as high school pupils and others objected to a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms and run-down buildings.

The protests began last week in the capital Paris and have spread across the country, with cities including Montpellier, Nantes and Marseille affected.

French justice minister Gerald Darmanin said things had "gone from high-school student demonstrations to a public order disturbance".

On Friday, a 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide after protests in Belfort, north-eastern France, where a police officer was targeted.

Source: The Star