One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has accused “socialist” school teachers of encouraging students to participate in protests against his party on Thursday, as Education Minister Jason Clare cautions children to stay in class and move their protest to the weekend.

The nationwide “students say no to Hanson” protest, with events in state and territory capitals, is hoping to attract thousands of students angry at the ascendent party’s policies, particularly on changes to the school curriculum regarding Australian history and gender.

“[Students have] been told to hate this country, and they’ve been advised by people – because it’s not on the students’ own volition – they’ve been advised by a clique of people who have a political purpose,” Joyce said on Wednesday.

“Do you honestly believe ... that three weeks ago those children of their own volition were saying: ‘I think I’m going to have a political protest against a political party?’ No, they just wanted to go to school and play soccer with their mates.

“Socialist teachers, left-wing teachers are making their statement and using the kids as a prop, and that’s very, very wrong.”

The protests seek to have around 10,000 students across the country walk out of school and university classes to march in city centres on Thursday afternoon.

Organiser Yasmine Johnson, also an education officer at the National Union of Students, said the action was an appropriate response to One Nation’s stance on multicultural issues.

“Students can see very well that what Pauline Hanson and One Nation want is a nastier, more vicious and oppressive future for them. They want a world that is more racist, more sexist and more homophobic. Students are looking at that and seeing that they want to do something to make sure their voices are heard,” Johnson told this masthead.

Johnson scoffed at Joyce’s claim that students would be “deficient” from missing an afternoon of schooling, and denied the claim that teachers were involved in the protests’ organisation.

“Students miss school for lots of reasons, some of which are far less important than protesting for a viable future: one where people of all races, religions and genders are accepted in Australia. That is a very good reason to miss school,” Johnson said.

Addressing a Canberra press conference on Wednesday, Clare said he was opposed to One Nation’s policies and rhetoric, but did not back students leaving school to attend the protest.

“I want kids at school learning, and I think I’ve been pretty consistent in that, in whatever protests have happened over the years,” Clare said. “You know, we’re a democracy, if people want to protest on the weekend, then fill your boots, but I want you at school when school is on, learning.”

One Nation does not have a published education policy. However, its website calls for a return to “critical thinking in the classroom”, and argues against “Western, white, gender, guilt-shaming”.