French teachers have joined nationwide student protests over staff shortages, poor school conditions and long working hours, adding pressure on the government to address problems in the education system.

Axar.az reports, citing France24, that the protests began at a high school in Creteil in late September after teachers went on strike over shortages of teaching and support staff. The movement has since spread to schools across France, with teachers and students demonstrating together.

Teachers say schools are struggling to fill vacancies, while classrooms can have as many as 35 students. A union representing public-school staff found that more than half of France’s middle and high schools lack at least one teacher, while 69% are missing at least one teaching or support staff member.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has ordered ministers to prepare measures addressing the protesters’ demands by the end of October, including filling vacant posts and improving working and learning conditions.

The government is also facing demands to renovate deteriorating school buildings, improve timetables and reform the university admissions system.

The protests have grown into one of the biggest student-led movements in France in recent years, with teachers increasingly joining demonstrations in support of their students.

Footage from the rallies also showed the mayor of Saint-Denis, a city near Paris, taking part in the protests. The Black mayor expressed support for the demonstrations.

More than 5,000 people have already been detained, most of them schoolchildren aged 15 to 18.