Tear gas and water cannon were deployed by police in several French cities, including Paris and Marseille, as nationwide protests by high school students escalated, drawing in parents, university students, and unions. The demonstrations, dubbed "Act Three" of the movement, saw hundreds of thousands take to the streets demanding more resources for schools and less police repression.

The protests highlight growing discontent within the French education system, with students and their families citing issues such as dilapidated school buildings, insufficient resources, and poor learning conditions. The movement has gained significant momentum, evolving from student-led actions to broader societal engagement.

In Paris, thousands of teenagers marched, their calls for better school conditions met with police intervention. Similar scenes unfolded in Marseille, where protesters attempted to barricade streets, prompting riot police to use tear gas. Students voiced frustration over leaking ceilings and generally poor conditions hindering their ability to study. "We will keep doing this until good measures are taken," one student stated.

The French government acknowledged the scale of the disruption, with figures indicating that nearly a quarter of all high schools experienced blockades on Tuesday. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu reported that since the protests began, 215 students and 85 staff members have been injured, alongside 715 police officers.

The protests come at a politically sensitive time, with presidential elections looming in seven months. Prime Minister Lecornu accused the radical-left France Unbowed (LFI) party of exploiting the situation to sow chaos. The LFI leader, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, is currently a strong contender in opinion polls.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray expressed a preference for dialogue over school blockades and criticized "ultra-violent elements" infiltrating the student movement. Proposed government responses, including a platform for grievances and internal school discussions, have so far failed to quell the unrest.

Student unions estimated the number of demonstrators nationwide at 450,000, with 1,800 high schools blockaded. The scale of participation suggests that the protests are unlikely to end soon, with France's largest union, the CGT, indicating support for further action.

President Emmanuel Macron was scheduled to chair a meeting with ministers to assess the situation, underscoring the government's concern over the escalating protests and their potential impact.