Student protests in France, which began in the second half of September, quickly spread across the country.
The actions, stemming from dissatisfaction with teacher shortages, the material and technical condition of schools, and future educational opportunities, have seriously affected the functioning of educational institutions, the learning process, and the safety of students.
AzEdu.az investigated the complications created by the events in France in the field of education, the demands of students, and the government's reaction.
When did the protests start and what were their causes?
The wave of protests in France began at the Saint-Exupéry high school in Créteil, a city near Paris. Students protested against teacher shortages in schools, lack of educational resources, and problems in educational conditions. Since the end of September, the actions have spread from the vicinity of Paris to other cities in the country.
One of the main reasons for the dissatisfaction is the shortage of teachers in public schools. Students stated that teachers for some subjects had not attended classes for a long time, no substitutes could be found, and this hindered the assimilation of the curriculum.
TIME magazine's material published on October 2 and updated on October 6, citing data from the French Ministry of Education, noted that approximately 10 percent of class hours in public secondary schools were not held in the 2024-2025 academic year. It was stated that 7.5 percent of this was due to the inability to find substitute teachers.
Another direction of the protests is the Parcoursup platform, used for admission to higher education institutions in France. Students expressed their dissatisfaction with the stress created by the admission process, the uncertainty regarding the results of choices, and social inequality among educational opportunities.
Social networks also played an important role in the spread of the actions. Posts about school problems and calls for protest spread on platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. However, it cannot be said that all participants pursued the same goal. While one group of students demanded better educational conditions, in some areas, actions resulted in violence, property damage, and clashes with the police.
Students explained the reasons for the protests: “They don't listen to us”
Students and university students who spoke to international media cited teacher shortages, resource differences between schools, concerns about the future, and the failure of state bodies to consider their opinions as major problems.
Theo, a 19-year-old university student, who spoke to Al Jazeera, said he was participating in a demonstration for the first time and wanted to support high school students. According to him, the problem is not limited to schools; universities and hospitals also need more resources.
“We have very few resources. All of us demand a better future,” Theo said. He criticized the government's financial priorities, emphasizing that young people demand better public services.
Olimpa, a 16-year-old high school student, expressed her dissatisfaction with teachers not coming to class at her school and being provided with fewer resources compared to other educational institutions. According to her, the differences in opportunities between schools affect students' ability to receive equal education.
Raniya, 15, stated that young people's opinions are not listened to: “We feel that we are not listened to at all. We feel humiliated, especially considering that we are the future.”
Raphael, 17, also said that young people are thought not to understand public and political issues due to their age. He stated that the protests are a means for young people to show that they can justify and defend their positions. Rose, 16, noted that if the problems are not resolved, the actions could continue.
University student Clara also emphasized her support for the demands of high school students. She stated that students in schools in the Seine-Saint-Denis region, where she lives, have been studying in unacceptable conditions for a long time.
Ilyas, a student at Blaise-Cendrars high school in Sevran, who spoke to Le Monde, said that school should be a place that opens the way to the future for young people. Agsayan, who studies at the same school, stated that her French teacher did not come to class from December 2025 to June 2026 and that she had difficulty in the exam due to unlearned topics.
Fanni, a student at Faidherbe high school in Lille, also drew attention to overcrowded classrooms, school buildings in need of repair, and deteriorating educational conditions. In addition, she expressed concerns about climate problems, the impact of artificial intelligence on future jobs, and the political situation.
These statements show that students' dissatisfaction is related not only to daily school problems but also to uncertainties about future education and job opportunities.
How did the protests affect the functioning of educational institutions?
One of the main consequences of the protests was the disruption of school activities and the suspension of classes. Blockades of school entrances, security risks, and clashes with police led to the complete or partial suspension of classes in some institutions.
On September 28, it was reported that 180 educational institutions were affected by the protests. On October 1, according to the French Ministry of Education, more than 1,020 high schools were affected by protests and strikes, with blockades recorded in 222 institutions.
On October 2, it was reported that slightly more than 400 of approximately 3,700 high schools would be closed. On the same day, it was also reported that protests or incidents hindering the organization of classes were recorded in 560 high schools. These figures do not mean that all institutions were completely closed: in some, entrances were blocked, while in others, classes were partially disrupted.
On October 6, a new large-scale phase of protests occurred. According to TIME magazine, the French Ministry of Education reported that at least 900 high schools were closed on that day. On the same day, teachers, parents, trade unions, and university students also joined the demonstrations held across the country. According to the French Ministry of Interior, the number of demonstrators exceeded 250,000.
On October 9, it was reported that 141 of 3,700 high schools remained closed due to blockades. On October 12, news citing data from the French Ministry of Education stated that 130 educational institutions were closed, and 96.5 percent of schools continued their activities. On the same day, it was reported that the protests had spread to 27 departments.
The suspension of classes increases the risk of students falling behind in the curriculum, teachers having to reschedule classes, and disruption of exam preparation. Especially for students in graduating classes and those preparing for university entrance exams, class losses can create additional difficulties.
Which schools were damaged?
During the protests, several educational institutions' buildings were damaged. One of the most notable incidents occurred at the Nelson-Mandela high school in Nantes. On October 1, a fire was set in the school's entrance hall, and part of the building was damaged.
Serious incidents also occurred in schools in Marseille. It was reported that two teachers were accidentally splashed with gasoline at Victor Hugo high school, and firefighters' vehicles were set on fire at the nearby Saint-Exupéry high school while they were extinguishing a fire. The building at Nelson-Mandela high school in Nantes was evacuated due to the fire.
In Paris and other cities, it was reported that the facades of school buildings, entrance areas, and surrounding infrastructure were damaged, and garbage bins were set on fire in some areas.
Reports on October 9 noted that at the beginning of the week, 400–500 educational institutions were fully or partially closed, and fire or vandalism incidents were recorded in 24 of them. This indicator does not show the total amount of material damage across France. A confirmed single figure for the total financial assessment of damage to schools in the country has not been released.
Damage to schools is not limited to building repairs. Rooms rendered unusable by fire, damaged entrances, and additional security measures can complicate the organization of classes.
How many people were detained during the riots?
The number of detainees during the protests sharply increased within a few days. On October 1, the French Ministry of Interior announced that 1,949 people had been detained across the country.
Le Monde newspaper's material published on October 8 and updated on October 10 stated that from September 28 to October 5, 6,059 people were detained, of whom 5,060 were taken into police custody. According to the Ministry of Justice, 87 percent of those taken into police custody were minors.
According to Reuters on October 10, the total number of detainees since the protests began reached 6,877. This figure includes detentions recorded on different days and is not the same as the number of people taken into police custody.
The French authorities announced that legal measures would be taken in connection with cases of violence, attacks on police officers, and damage to public property. Government representatives stated that educational problems could be discussed, but fires and violence were unacceptable.
There are injured among students and education workers
During the protests, students, teachers, and law enforcement officers were injured. On October 1, French Education Minister Edouard Geffray stated that 170 students and 65 education workers were injured.
On October 6, reports citing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that the number of injured students had risen to 215, and the number of education workers to 85. During the same period, it was reported that more than 700 police officers were also injured.
Among the incidents were those resulting in serious injuries. On September 28, 14-year-old Eden suffered a severe jaw injury when a tear gas grenade thrown by a police officer hit his face. In early October, it was reported that a 16-year-old student in Tours lost an eye.
On October 5, a 15-year-old student in Lens lost a hand during an incident involving a police grenade. An investigation has been launched into the incident. According to Reuters on October 10, 24 investigations were underway regarding the use of force by police officers during the protests. The French Minister of Interior announced that he had suspended the use of stun grenades during the investigation.
The police's use of force against protesters has drawn criticism. Investigations into police conduct began after images circulated on social media. Human rights organizations also expressed concerns about injuries to minors and the proportionality of force used.
Universities also joined the protests
The actions, initially involving mainly high school students, later spread to higher education institutions. University students, in addition to supporting the demands of high school students, expressed their dissatisfaction with equal opportunities in the education system, funding, and future educational prospects.
Student unions reported mobilization in approximately 30 universities. France Universités, an organization uniting university administrations, noted that the entrances to approximately 12 campuses were closed. These indicators show that the actions were not limited to secondary education institutions.
Two students named Claire and Clara, studying political science at Paris-VIII University, also joined the action to support high school students. They told Le Monde that high school students are simply demanding normal and decent educational conditions.
The situation in universities was not uniform. In some campuses, entrances were blocked, while in others, support actions were held. Although changes were made to the organization of classes in individual higher education institutions, there is no information that all universities have suspended their activities.
What steps is the French government taking?
As the scale of the protests grew, the French government faced the necessity of both ensuring security and responding to students' demands. Education Minister Edouard Geffray met with representatives of education unions in early October to discuss the situation.
On October 8, the minister announced that 3,000 additional substitute teachers would be directed to high schools where teacher shortages were more acute. In addition, permission to hire several hundred teachers and allocate additional class hours for short-term substitutions were planned. Reports on October 9 stated that 3,024 substitute teachers had been contacted. This figure does not mean that all of them have already started working in schools.
The Ministry of Education also planned to hold half-day meetings in high schools from October 7 to listen to students' problems. An online survey was organized to gather students' opinions. The survey covered issues such as teacher shortages, material conditions of schools, class schedules, the Parcoursup process, and students' participation in decision-making. The results of the survey were planned to be summarized at the end of October.
On October 12, news citing data from the French Ministry of Education stated that 96.5 percent of schools were open, while 130 educational institutions remained closed. Although this indicator shows a decrease in the impact of the protests, it does not confirm that the problems have been fully resolved.
The main tasks facing the government are the normal resumption of classes, reduction of teacher shortages, and ensuring the safety of school buildings. However, since the causes of the protests are related to long-discussed structural problems, there is no guarantee that short-term measures alone will completely eliminate dissatisfaction.
How can the events affect the education system in the long term?
The events in France show that problems such as teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and weak school infrastructure can turn into widespread public dissatisfaction if not addressed in a timely manner. The failure to hold classes creates a risk of negatively affecting students' assimilation of the curriculum, preparation for exams, and academic results.
In this situation, children from socially vulnerable families may face more difficulties. Students with additional teacher support and individual preparation opportunities can more easily overcome class losses. Children without such opportunities, however, may fall behind in mastering topics. As a result, there is a possibility of further deepening existing educational inequalities.
Damage to school buildings and the risk to teachers' safety also negatively affect the educational environment. For the normal functioning of educational institutions, not only financial and personnel provision but also students and teachers feeling safe is important.
Consequently, the protests that began in the second half of September in France quickly turned the problems in the education system into one of the main topics on the country's agenda. In early October, thousands of educational institutions being affected by protests in various forms, damage to schools, thousands of detentions, and injuries to students and education workers show the scale of the events. Although the number of closed schools decreased in subsequent days, dissatisfaction with teacher shortages and educational conditions remained on the agenda.
To eliminate the effects of the events on the education sector, in addition to resuming classes, it is important to solve the problems that caused the protests. Reducing teacher shortages, improving school buildings, creating normal learning conditions, and listening to students' demands are of great importance in preventing similar tensions in the future.
