Police in France fired tear gas yesterday as students, teachers and parents joined nationwide protests over education, with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu describing them as the most violent school protests in decades.

Lecornu said at least 215 teenagers and 85 school staff had been injured, while more than 700 police officers were also hurt.

Clashes and fires were reported in Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg and Rennes.

The protests, which began in September, have spread nationwide, with the High School Students Union saying more than half of France’s high schools were blockaded or closed for the day.