The warning comes after riot police clashed with high school students across France on Friday amid demonstrations over classroom conditions, teacher shortages and education funding.
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Since Monday, around 5,000 people, mostly teenagers, have been arrested nationwide, while dozens have been injured. National police spokesperson Agathe Foucault said more than 600 police officers had also sustained injuries.
Teachers and members of the public have been attacked during the unrest, while property damage has been estimated at tens of millions of euros.
In an open letter published on X ahead of renewed protests planned for Tuesday, Faure said those who initially launched the movement were no longer in control of it. He urged students to abandon school blockades and violent unrest in favour of peaceful protest.
“It is time to return to peaceful forms of action,” Faure said. He also called on parents to discourage their children from becoming involved in violence.
Student unions have announced a nationwide day of demonstrations for Tuesday. French security officials are concerned that protests in central Paris could again turn violent and that anarchist groups could seek to exploit the demonstrations.
The protests have been driven by complaints about overcrowded classrooms, persistent teacher shortages and deteriorating school buildings. The movement has spread to hundreds of schools across France.
