Containers placed outside universities and schools; France in turmoil as police on high alert

Students placed rubbish bins in front of the entrance to the school, which has become the epicentre of the student protest movement, blocking access to the building, BFM reported.

Paris Cité University has also been blocked off with rubbish bins, with around ten students gathered outside the institution, according to Le Figaro.

France's Minister of National Education, Édouard Geffray, called on demonstrators this morning not to prevent students from attending classes, stressing that the return to school was "an absolute priority".

"Blocking schools is illegal. You cannot prevent your fellow students from attending classes," the minister said.

Police announced that they would increase their presence around schools and universities in response to the weeks-long protests, the National Directorate of Public Security said.

Last Monday, the ministers of national and higher education announced a series of measures in an attempt to bring an end to the demonstrations, which began in mid-September.

They pledged to cancel planned job cuts in the national education system, create 500 additional jobs, limit class sizes to 28 students in the second year of secondary school, and provide 15,000 additional places in higher education.

However, the announcement of these measures has failed to bring an end to the protests by high school and university students, who argue that the education system remains in poor condition and that greater investment in the sector is necessary.