French police fire tear gas as students and parents protest school funding

French police fired tear gas at protesters after more than 250,000 people, according to officials, rallied across the country demanding more school funding. Student unions put the figure above 450,000.

The demonstrations follow more than two weeks of high school blockades that began in a Paris suburb, with some universities now joining. Students want more teachers, better infrastructure and facilities, and lighter timetables.

The day was mostly calm, but tensions flared at the end, with parents forming a line to shield students from police, who used a charge and water cannon. The prime minister says high schools will stay closed until the end of the week while ministers work on solutions, as pressure mounts on a government facing the biggest student protests in decades.

Al Jazeera's Natacha Butler reports from Paris.

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