The French government plans to increase the number of third-level student places and make €4 billion ($4.5 billion) available for high-school renovations as it tries to end nationwide protests that have turned violent in recent weeks.

High-school students began to demonstrate in mid-September to denounce overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and outdated buildings. Their blockades and marches morphed into nationwide cost of living protests earlier this month that drew more than half a million people and descended into riots, arson and looting.