France erupts in nationwide student protests

October 6 2026

France is facing a major nationwide wave of student protests, with tens of thousands of students, teachers and parents taking to the streets on Tuesday as anger grows over deteriorating school conditions, teacher shortages and inadequate funding for education.

The movement, which began in the Paris suburbs in mid-September, has rapidly spread across the country. Students have blockaded schools and staged demonstrations demanding greater investment in the education system, smaller class sizes, more teachers and repairs to aging school buildings.

France’s national high-school students’ union said about 1,800 of the country’s roughly 3,700 high schools were either blockaded or closed for the day. Nearly 90,000 students, education workers and parents were reported to have participated in demonstrations nationwide.

Students say many schools are struggling with overcrowded classrooms, teacher absences and deteriorating infrastructure, including buildings affected by leaks and other maintenance problems. Their concerns have also expanded to broader anxieties about their economic prospects and future opportunities.

While many demonstrations remained peaceful, several cities including Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg and Rennes saw clashes between protesters and police. Authorities deployed tear gas as some demonstrators set fires and threw projectiles.

The response has generated further controversy. French authorities say the protests have in some cases been hijacked by people seeking violence, while students, parents and rights groups have accused police of using excessive force against young demonstrators.

The violence has resulted in serious injuries. Reuters reported that more than 6,100 people have been arrested since the protests began, with the overwhelming majority reportedly minors. More than 1,800 people are being prosecuted, including 1,483 minors, according to France’s Justice Ministry.

A particularly serious incident occurred in Lens on Monday when a 15-year-old student lost his hand and part of his lower arm after a police dispersal grenade exploded.

By October 5, Le Monde reported that 190 students, 650 law-enforcement officers and 78 school staff had been injured during the unrest.

The protests present another major challenge for Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government, which is simultaneously attempting to deal with France’s difficult fiscal situation and pass a deficit-reduction budget.

Government officials have acknowledged that some of the students’ grievances are legitimate and have announced measures aimed at opening discussions with students, teachers and parents. However, demonstrators say the government’s response has so far failed to address the scale of the problems facing the education system.

With protests continuing and tensions rising, France’s education crisis has quickly developed into a wider political confrontation, putting increasing pressure on the government to find a solution before the demonstrations escalate further.