As many as 500 high schools across France will be partially or completely closed on Monday because of security concerns linked to nationwide protests by teenage students, Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced Sunday.

Geffray said lessons would be “totally or partly suspended” at roughly 400 to 500 high schools because adequate security conditions had not been met. He said 24 schools have been burned or ransacked since the demonstrations began.

The protests started at a Paris high school on Sept. 17 before spreading across the country. Students have complained about teacher shortages and absences, lengthy school days, deteriorating facilities and other problems they say are disrupting their education.

Geffray said Monday’s disruption would likely be similar to the number of schools affected Friday, while promising a “partial, progressive return to lessons” as conditions improve.

The demonstrations have increasingly been marked by clashes and violence involving protesters and security forces. Police have used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds in some cases, while government officials have accused far-left activists of entering the student movement and escalating the unrest.

Geffray said 78 education workers have been injured during the protests, calling the situation unprecedented and saying some staff members were deliberately targeted because they work for the national education system.

Organizers have called for demonstrations to continue Tuesday, arguing that the government has failed to provide sufficient “concrete measures” to address students’ complaints.

More than 5,000 people, approximately 85% of whom are minors, have been arrested since the movement began. Police have also faced accusations of using excessive force during the demonstrations.

Authorities detained a 16-year-old Sunday in connection with an attack on a 59-year-old teacher in the southern town of La Ciotat. The teacher was reportedly doused with gasoline and struck Friday near a high school protest.