French students clashed with police nationwide, shutting down 400 high schools and sparking 1,747 arrests as protests over overcrowded classrooms and underfunded education escalated into violent confrontations.
Students across France blocked school entrances, set fires, and hurled projectiles at police, who responded with tear gas, as nationwide protests over deteriorating educational conditions spiraled into violence. Over 400 schools were closed on October 2, with 735 schools affected in one way or another
on Friday, down 30 per cent from Thursday, according to Education Minister Édouard Geffray.
Students Demand Better Conditions as Government Condemns Protests
High schoolers in Paris, Lyon, and Strasbourg cited overcrowded classrooms with up to 40 students and dilapidated buildings, blaming years of underinvestment. We are 35 per class, we don’t have enough chairs in classrooms, the one-hour lunch break (is too short) for everyone to get food,
said 15-year-old Kesia in Pantin, as police used tear gas to disperse crowds. The movement has seen students accuse the government of neglecting secondary education, with one protester stating, School is a right, not a privilege.
A 14-year-old boy suffered serious injuries to his mouth and jaw after police allegedly beat him and fired a rubber-bullet launcher, according to his lawyer. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez condemned the unrest as urban violence,
citing projectiles thrown at police and attacks on teachers. Students countered that police used excessive force, with the boy’s case highlighting concerns. Teacher Sandra Champain-Seller said, The violence is regrettable, but when demands go unheard for years… students are in a real state of anxiety.
Government Faces Criticism Over Budget Cuts and Parental Reparations
The government faced criticism for proposed budget cuts, despite a planned 1.7% increase in the education budget to €65.53 billion for 2027. Finance Minister Roland Lescure said the 2027 budget aimed for a fiscal adjustment of 54 billion euros, partly through freezing wages for public sector workers.
Darmanin urged parents to pay for damages caused by protesters, while Education Minister Édouard Geffray acknowledged 65 staff injuries, including 40 principals. The protests also drew political scrutiny, with intelligence services accusing the France Unbowed party (LFI) of a maneuver organized by LFI and its ultra-left proxies.
Clashes Intensify as Protests Spread
Violence spread beyond Paris, with students in Brest throwing objects into fires and police using batons in Aubervilliers. In Toulouse, students administered eye drops after tear gas exposure. The unrest has affected schools nationwide, with 40 children in some classrooms, according to reports.
As the crisis deepened, unions called for a teachers’ strike, and President Emmanuel Macron’s government faced pressure over its handling of the crisis. We are 35 per class, we don’t have enough chairs in classrooms, the one hour lunch break (is too short) for everyone to get food,
said a student at Lycée Voltaire, highlighting systemic issues.