PARIS, France: Violence has increased during student protests across France, with a headteacher injured in an attack and fires reported at schools in Marseille and Nantes. The demonstrations stem from complaints about staff shortages and poor school buildings.

In Marseille, attackers surrounded a fire truck that had arrived to put out a fire at Saint-Exupery high school on October 1, police said. The firefighters were forced to leave the vehicle, which was then set on fire.

A headteacher at Victor Hugo High School in the same city was also attacked and doused with petrol. The prosecutor's office said the headteacher was injured but did not provide further details.

Another fire broke out at Nelson Mandela High School in Nantes. Fire crews said the blaze was brought under control and no one was injured. People inside the building were evacuated, while students who were due to arrive were kept away.

The protests and school blockades began last week and have now spread across France. They have focused on teacher and other staff shortages, overcrowded schools, and deteriorating buildings.

The unrest comes at a difficult time for the government, which announced spending cuts in its 2027 budget on October 1. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu held a crisis meeting as the demonstrations continued.

Officials said dozens of people had been injured and hundreds arrested since the protests began. Most of those arrested were teenagers.

In the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, groups of students gathered in front of police officers. One student carried a sign asking whether protesters could explain themselves without being hit by tear gas.

Students have accused police of using heavy-handed tactics, including tear gas. The government has condemned violence during the protests while also acknowledging that problems in high schools need to be addressed.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that, in some areas, people were moving from one school to another to encourage further unrest and violence.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray asked schools to consider remote classes when protesters blocked access to their buildings.

"Violence will not keep our students from their fundamental right to an education," he said in a post on X.

The government has said schools must remain open and that students and staff should be able to attend safely. The protests have nevertheless continued to spread, with hundreds of schools affected in recent days.

In Nantes, Olivier Chateau, a deputy to the mayor, said the fire at Nelson Mandela high school was under control and that there were no injuries. The building had been cleared, and students were prevented from entering.