Paris:French high school and university students renewed their protests on Thursday as Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced that 3,000 substitute teachers would be deployed to schools starting Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency, Geffray identified 114 high schools in a critical situation due to severe teacher shortages, categorizing them as 'red.' Additionally, 400 schools were classified as 'orange,' indicating significant staffing pressures. He stated on TF1 broadcaster that these teachers would be joining the affected schools imminently and authorized school district authorities to recruit beyond current limits.

The government has received 66,000 contributions through a platform designed to gather high school students' demands, an increase from 40,000 earlier in the day. Among the demands are 250,000 additional university places and the abolition of selection through the Parcoursup admissions platform.

Nationwide, over 130,000 demonstrators participated in Thursday's mobilization, according to the CGT trade union, although the Interior Ministry reported a lower figure of 71,500, including 24,500 in Paris. The ministry also noted 504 arrests and an increase in urban violence, with nearly 50 police officers and gendarmes injured.

In Belfort, three more minors were placed under formal investigation following an assault on a police officer during the protests, as reported by the prosecutor's office. Student and education unions have called for another day of mobilization and strikes on October 13.