Across France, police detained 5,000 students since Monday and wounded dozens of demonstrators, while 600 officers also sustained injuries during clashes.
Patrice Faure’s open letter on X, published Saturday, called the movement "out of control" and urged students to abandon school blockades in favor of peaceful protest.
Student unions plan a national demonstration on Tuesday, and teacher unions have called for a strike as they cite overcrowding, teacher shortages and dilapidated schools as the roots of the unrest.
Teachers and staff have been physically targeted and property damage is now estimated at €30 million, according to police estimates.
Police will deploy 600 riot officers to central Paris on Tuesday to curb violence, as authorities warn that far‑left anarchists could hijack the protest.