French high school students prepare for another nationwide mobilization

Yesterday 18:00

French high school and university students are preparing for another day of mobilization Thursday, as dissatisfaction over the state of the education system continues to fuel protests across the country. Government efforts to ease tensions have so far failed to convince many young demonstrators, who are demanding concrete responses to long-standing problems in schools and higher education.

The new mobilization comes less than a week after a major demonstration that brought between 266,000 and 450,000 people into the streets nationwide, according to the figures cited by authorities and organizers. With France already entering a politically charged period ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the student movement is becoming an increasingly visible expression of wider social frustration.

Schools face disruption across France

The protest movement, which emerged in mid-September in the Paris suburbs, has focused heavily on conditions in secondary schools, particularly in disadvantaged areas. Students have highlighted deteriorating school buildings, overcrowded classrooms and teachers' absences that are frequently left without replacements.

The scale of disruption was already apparent Thursday morning. The Education Ministry said classes were fully or partially suspended in 375 of the country's roughly 3,700 secondary schools, representing more than one in ten establishments.

In Rennes, around 60 students gathered outside a high school early Thursday. Hanaa, an 18-year-old final-year student, said she remained unconvinced by the government's latest response, while 17-year-old Salyna described the situation as urgent and argued that officials should have demonstrated greater commitment.

Government promises dialogue but few immediate measures

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu sought to lower tensions Wednesday evening during an address to high school students from Matignon. While acknowledging the concerns expressed by young people, he stopped short of announcing immediate measures, pointing instead to the end of October for the first decisions.

The government has also encouraged students to communicate their concerns through a platform launched Monday evening and within their own schools. Dedicated periods without classes are expected to give students and education staff an opportunity to raise problems directly.

The approach has met resistance from school principals' representatives, however, who have indicated that they do not want to organize such discussions until the atmosphere becomes more stable.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray is scheduled to visit a high school in Reims on Thursday for discussions with students, as the government attempts to demonstrate that dialogue remains open.

Student organizations push for broader action

Student organizations are seeking to transform the latest demonstrations into a broader campaign. The Union étudiante has called for blockades at high schools and university campuses, followed by gatherings outside regional prefectures around midday in the Paris region.

The organization has also encouraged demonstrators to converge on Paris, with a gathering planned at Place de la Bastille in the afternoon.

The Federation of General Student Associations, known as Fage, has likewise signaled that the movement is unlikely to end this week. Its president, Suzanne Nijdam, said students would continue organizing gatherings Thursday and predicted larger demonstrations the following week.

Among the movement's demands is the creation of 250,000 additional university places. Students are also calling for the abolition of Parcoursup, the national higher-education admissions platform. Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste has rejected that demand as unrealistic and politically populist.

Several education unions have joined the call for strikes and demonstrations, broadening the mobilization beyond student organizations.

Security concerns add to tensions

The government's attempts at de-escalation have also extended to policing. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the suspension of the use of sound grenades following the serious injury of a 15-year-old demonstrator in Lens on Monday, an incident that generated strong reactions among protesters and left-wing political groups.

Nuñez said 18 investigations by France's internal police oversight body had been opened since the movement began. The authorities have reported injuries involving 215 students and 85 education staff, while nearly 800 police officers and gendarmes have also been injured.

The figures underline the increasingly tense nature of the protests and place additional pressure on the government to prevent further confrontations.

A movement with growing political significance

Thursday's mobilization will provide a new indication of whether the student protests are losing momentum or entering a broader phase. For many participants, the dispute extends beyond individual school conditions and reflects deeper concerns about access to education, inequality and prospects for young people.

With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the government's handling of the movement is therefore taking on a significance that goes beyond the education sector. The immediate challenge for the authorities will be to translate calls for dialogue into measures capable of convincing students who say that promises without concrete action are no longer sufficient.