French riot police fire tear gas at protesters as more than 250,000 demand urgent school funding

Demonstrators clashed with police in Paris and across France today as more than a quarter of a million people rallied nationwide to support pupils demanding more education funding. The protests have heaped pressure on outgoing French president Emmanuel Macron as pupils continue to blockade high schools while waving cards and placards in Marseille, Strasbourg and other major cities. Demonstrations that began in Paris in mid-September have fanned out into a nationwide movement. "We need to listen to them," said Lea Monimart, an adult demonstrator in the northern city of Lille. "They are 17 years old; they are not completely clueless, and they know what they are talking about. It's important to show that there are adults who support them." Interior Ministry officials estimated some 266,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country on Tuesday, including 56,000 in Paris alone. Nearly 500 people were detained today, according to the ministry. The widespread number of arrests, tear gas and riot-control weapons against teens continues to fuel defiance and has angered some parents and teachers. Felix Barney, a university student, described the police response as disproportionate, saying it doesn't make "any sense to hit minors". Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the police response had been proportionate in "almost all cases " and that the demonstrations had turned into riots, requiring police intervention. At Helene Boucher high school in Paris' 20th district, protesters tipped over trash cans and bicycles onto their sides to create makeshift barricades. The ongoing protests have led hundreds of schools to close around the country. Authorities have started to shut schools since last week in a bid to take some steam out of the demonstrations after widespread damage to schools and mounting injuries among staff, students and police. At Helene Boucher, parents and other adults positioned themselves on Tuesday between protesters and police keeping watch. "They are our children. Teachers, parents, federations, we all share the same goal: the protection of children's rights, and it is a legitimate right to demonstrate and to make demands," said Emilia Sichili Suriam, who is a member of an association of parents. Demonstrators have voiced a range of grievances, often centring on a lack of resources and opportunities for students in disadvantaged schools, despite the promise of France's national motto: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity." Suzanne Nijdam, president of the federation of student associations, vowed that demonstrations would continue until authorities address the complaints. "So, we really need to act now, and it's in the government's hands, to see these demands through to the end," she said. "It's a matter of political priority, a matter of prioritising the youth and the future of our country." Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the violence that had happened since the demonstrations began. Since the protests had begun 215 students and 85 staff were injured in addition to 715 police officers. A 15-year-old boy's hand was blown apart when an anti-protest grenade was fired at demonstrators near a school in the city of Lens. Authorities have claimed he picked up the "sting ball" which then exploded in his hand, other witnesses have alleged he had been hit directly after a police officer fired it. Neighbouring Belgium has also seen student protests with more than 30 being arrested on Tuesday. Several police were injured in the eastern city of Liege.