French Students Protest School Conditions Amid Violent Clashes

Thousands of students have engaged in nationwide protests across France since late September to demand education reform. Demonstrators are calling for the filling of teacher vacancies, repairs to dilapidated buildings, and reduced timetables to combat overcrowded classrooms. The movement peaked with a strike involving over 450,000 participants and major gatherings at Bastille Square in Paris.

The unrest has escalated into significant violence. Protesters burned or ransacked 24 schools, while riot police used tear gas, batons, and stun grenades to disperse crowds. These clashes resulted in more than 6,800 detentions, 86% of whom are minors. Following an incident where a 15-year-old student lost a hand to a stun grenade, the government suspended the use of the weapon.

In response, Édouard Geffray, the Education Minister, announced the deployment of 3,000 substitute teachers to the 114 worst-affected schools. Economy Minister Roland Lescure stated that the 2027 budget has room to address resource demands. While the number of closed high schools dropped from nearly 900 on October 2 to 141 by October 9, student organizers and union representatives have dismissed these measures as insufficient. They are planning further large-scale demonstrations for the following week, while the government has committed to presenting a comprehensive crisis response plan by the end of October.