Tens of Thousands Join French Student Protests as Crisis Turns Political

Tens of thousands of students have joined protests across France that began in Paris' suburbs over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, poor school conditions, and planned budget cuts, The Jerusalem Post and Globes reported.

According to Globes, the unrest has included arson, barricades, clashes with police, and injuries, alongside public criticism of the severity of police suppression.

The crisis has turned into a major political flashpoint ahead of France's presidential election, with the right and left clashing between a focus on immigration and security and demands to address the distress facing the educational system.