France experienced its most significant day of school-related demonstrations on Tuesday, as thousands of students, teachers, and parents took to the streets to demand improved funding and infrastructure for the national education system. While many rallies remained orderly, violent confrontations erupted in Strasbourg, Lyon, and Rennes, where police deployed tear gas after demonstrators ignited fires and threw projectiles.
The protests, which originated in the suburbs of Paris in September, have expanded nationwide, placing significant strain on President Emmanuel Macron’s administration. Participants cited a range of grievances, including staff shortages, rat infestations, and deteriorating facilities. "There is such a gap between the elites and us," said Hugo Vetzel, a recent high-school graduate participating in the Strasbourg protests. Outside the Henri IV school in Paris, another graduate named Roberta added, "We want more money for the national educational system so that high schools are renovated."
Estimates regarding the scale of the mobilization varied significantly. The Union Syndicale Lyceenne (USL) claimed that approximately 2,000 high schools were closed, while the education ministry reported full or partial suspensions at 891 institutions. Some local authorities shifted to online learning in response to the blockades.
Government data indicates that 6,100 people have been arrested since September, the majority being minors. The justice ministry is currently prosecuting over 1,800 individuals, including 1,483 minors. According to the office of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, at least 715 police officers and 215 students have sustained injuries. Tensions were further exacerbated on Monday when a 15-year-old in northern France suffered the loss of a hand and part of his arm after handling a police dispersal grenade.
In response to the unrest, Prime Minister Lecornu has directed ministers to develop proposals by the end of October regarding teacher replacement, school day duration, and building repairs. However, many remain skeptical of these pledges. "That's all fine and dandy, but that's not what's going to change the daily lives of our children," said Emilie Lhomme, a parent protesting at the Helene Boucher school in Paris.
Addressing parliament on Tuesday, Lecornu condemned the violence, stating, "Burning down a high school does not improve the state of high school buildings. Lynching a teacher does not help replace teachers." He also rejected claims that the government had ordered police repression against protesters.
The administration faces a complex fiscal environment, with rising borrowing costs and a significant budget deficit limiting its ability to fund major reforms. With presidential elections approaching in six months, the political climate remains volatile. While the government and Marine Le Pen’s National Rally have accused the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party of inciting the protests, LFI has denied these allegations.
