On Thursday, November 12, multiple high schools in Montpellier were targeted in a series of arson attacks that prompted sharp condemnation from regional education officials.
Fires broke out in two distinct locations within the Lycée Mermoz on Thursday morning, forcing school staff to secure students on site without ordering an immediate evacuation, according to Midi Libre.
Aymeric Meiss, Directeur académique des services de l’Éducation nationale (DASEN) de l’Hérault, denounced what he described as a hardening of violence that bears no relation to student protests.
“Taking the risk of endangering an entire establishment is unacceptable!” Meiss told Midi Libre, praising the rapid response of the school personnel who managed to extinguish the blazes before firefighters arrived.
Investigators Seek Perpetrators After School Arsons
Investigators are working to determine the identity of the perpetrators who managed to bypass the school’s security checkpoints.
“Since some time ago, principals have been reporting to us a hardening of violence that has nothing to do with the demands of high school students,” Meiss told Midi Libre. “We must fight them and denounce them with firmness. Burning schools is not part of the demands.”
School authorities and the Rectorate have filed formal criminal complaints regarding the arsons. Officials confirmed that any students identified as participants will face immediate disciplinary proceedings alongside potential legal prosecution.
Targeting School Leadership
The unrest has increasingly focused on administrative staff, with several principals experiencing direct intimidation both outside school gates and across social media platforms.
“On several occasions, principals have been specifically targeted by insults or threats, in front of the establishments or on social networks,” Meiss said to Midi Libre. “Their mission is to manage educational establishments. They ensure the safety of staff and students while maintaining dialogue. Taking them as a target is incomprehensible.”
Officials emphasized that structured avenues already exist for student grievances, pointing to a national consultation platform that previously surfaced roughly 200 high schools prioritized for infrastructure repairs.
“The blockade is not the only way to make your voice heard and we have spaces, in our institutions, for expressions to be expressed,” Meiss added.
Academic Continuity Concerns
While the disruptions have sparked anxiety among parents regarding academic progress, education officials maintain that the impact remains localized.
