06/10/2026
France is witnessing a growing wave of student protests as high-school students take to the streets over worsening conditions in the country’s education system.
The protests began in late September at a school in the Paris suburbs, initially driven by complaints over teacher shortages and inadequate resources. The movement has since spread to cities across France.
By Monday, October 5, authorities expected 400 to 500 high schools to be fully or partially closed out of roughly 3,700 nationwide. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said the closures were linked primarily to security concerns. 🏫
Students have raised concerns about overcrowded classrooms, absent teachers, long school hours and deteriorating school buildings.
Student representatives said talks with the education minister had not produced enough concrete measures and called for continued mobilisation.
The situation has also become increasingly tense. Authorities say 24 schools have been burned or ransacked, while 78 education staff members have been injured since the protests began. Around 5,000 people have been arrested, according to government figures reported by Reuters.
Police and protesters have clashed in several cities, with tear gas and other crowd-control measures used. The government has called for order, while student groups are preparing for another nationwide demonstration on Tuesday.
At its heart, the protest is about a simple demand: students want schools where teachers, resources and basic infrastructure are available when they need them.
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