High‑school protests in France spread across the country: more than 400 schools were closed.

In France, protests launched by high‑school students demanding better educational conditions and more resources for schools are spreading nationwide. Demonstrations that began around Paris quickly spread to cities such as Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Strasbourg, and Nantes.

According to Ministry of Education data, on October 1 more than 1,020 high schools were affected by protests or strikes, and 222 of them had their entrances blocked. The next day, it was decided to close about 400 high schools for security reasons.

Students Demand More Resources

At the heart of the protests are teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, long lesson hours, and inadequate physical conditions of school buildings.

Students also demand the elimination of resource shortages in the education system and the filling of personnel gaps in schools. Student representatives point out that shortages in teacher staffing directly affect the educational process.

More Than 400 High Schools Closed Their Doors

Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced that more than 400 educational institutions would be closed on October 2 for security reasons.

The ministry said that fire‑security systems at some schools had been damaged and staff had been targeted. Remote instruction was planned for a large portion of the closed schools. It was also announced that on the same day 564 educational institutions were affected by protests or other actions.

Tension Rises in Demonstrations

In some cities, barricades were erected during protests, trash containers were set on fire, and clashes erupted between security forces and students. Incidents in Strasbourg and other cities saw police use tear gas.

The French Interior Ministry announced that on October 1, 1,949 people were detained in the course of protests and that 305 police officers and gendarmes were injured.

The Government Also Keeps Dialogue on the Agenda

While the government argues that the violence witnessed in the demonstrations should be evaluated separately from the educational demands, Education Minister Geffray held talks with student and parent representatives.

The government's officials' claim that some political groups were steering the protests also sparked debate. La France Insoumise, however, rejected those assessments and stated that it supports the students' demands.

Teacher Unions Are Also Preparing for Action

Alongside student protests, teacher unions are also preparing actions to draw attention to problems in the education system.

Thus, the school protests launched by students in France are expected to merge with teachers' demands regarding working conditions and the education budget. The plan to increase education spending by 1.7% in the 2027 budget is deemed insufficient by unions and protesters.

With the spread of protests across the country, discussions on education policies, school conditions, and the allocation of public resources have once again moved to the center of France's national agenda.