France, Oct. 3 -- "We're quite disappointed," said Marius Mesnil, co-secretary-general of the High School Student Union, after talks at the Education Ministry on Friday.

He and representatives of other student unions, parents' associations and teachers unions met Education Minister Edouard Geffray as hundreds of schools remained closed or blockaded amid protests that have become increasingly violent.

Some 170 students have been injured since the start of the movement, Geffray said on Friday evening, while more than 100 secondary schools have suffered "severe damage".

At least 65 staff members - including 40 head teachers - have also been injured. Police have arrested more than 5,000 people since protests began, most of them minors.

Wh...