Violent demonstrations across France have led to widespread school closures, thousands of arrests, and hundreds of injuries as students continue to clash with authorities over deteriorating conditions in the country’s high schools. Since the unrest began roughly two weeks ago near Paris, approximately 3,000 individuals have been detained, with nearly 2,000 arrested on Thursday alone, according to the French interior ministry.
The education minister, Édouard Geffray, reported that 170 students and 65 school staff members have been injured, alongside nearly 400 police officers. Despite Friday’s calls for calm, around 900 separate demonstrations occurred nationwide, and more than 500 schools remained shuttered as protests involving fires and blockades persisted.
In an effort to de-escalate the situation, Geffray held meetings with education unions, student organizations, and parent associations on Friday morning. He announced a new digital platform for students to submit reform proposals, which will inform a forthcoming national report. “High school students must be listened to,” Geffray stated on X, emphasizing the need for concrete responses at both the school and national levels.
However, student organizations have rejected these overtures, calling for continued action due to a perceived lack of tangible government measures. The unrest stems from deep-seated grievances regarding teacher shortages, inadequate funding, and poor infrastructure. During the 2024-2025 academic year, nearly 10% of teaching hours in public secondary schools went untaught, with about 7.5% of those lost hours attributed to difficulties in finding substitutes.
Students have cited overcrowded classrooms, insufficient furniture, and hazardous heat levels in buildings as critical issues. One 15-year-old in Pantin told Reuters that classes often contain 35 students with inadequate seating, while a 17-year-old in Strasbourg described leaking roofs and broken facilities. The protests also highlight frustration with the Parcoursup university application system, which many young people describe as a source of significant stress.
The movement originated in late September at Lycée Saint-Exupéry in Créteil, focusing initially on local resource shortages. It has since spread to major cities including Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille, and Strasbourg. By Monday, 180 schools were disrupted; by the end of the week, that number had exceeded 500.
Tensions peaked on Thursday with incidents of arson at several schools. At Lycée Victor Hugo in Marseille, teachers were accidentally splashed with gasoline, while at Lycée Saint-Exupéry in the same city, protesters forced firefighters out of a truck before setting it ablaze. Both the Student Union and the High School Trade Union have urged a continuation of blockades into the following week.
Government officials have responded with a mix of dialogue and warnings. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin stated that parents should bear financial responsibility for property damage caused by their children. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu canceled travel plans to hold a crisis meeting, and President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence while acknowledging the anxieties driving the protests. Geffray urged parents to keep their children home, citing the dangers posed by the escalating unrest.
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