Paris: Protests by high school students that began in the Paris region have spread across France, with students demanding improvements to schools and education while clashes with police have led to thousands of arrests and hundreds of injuries.
The movement began on September 21 at Saint Exupéry high school in Créteil, southeast of Paris, before spreading to other schools in the Paris region and then to cities across the country. Students have complained about teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating school buildings, difficult timetables and pressure linked to university admissions.
The protests have been particularly visible in disadvantaged areas such as Seine Saint Denis, where students say they face poorer educational conditions than those in wealthier parts of France.
Students have described classrooms with around 35 pupils and cases in which teachers were absent for long periods without replacement. Some have also complained about inadequate facilities and a lack of equipment at their schools.
The protests escalated sharply on October 1. According to figures released by French authorities, 1,027 high schools were affected and 222 were blockaded. Police made 1,949 arrests that day as clashes broke out in several parts of the country.
Authorities said 305 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured, while 170 students and 65 education workers were also reported injured.
The Interior Ministry said more than 5,000 people had been arrested in connection with the unrest since Monday. The figure is cumulative and covers several days of protests rather than a single demonstration.
The scale of disruption declined on October 2, when about 735 schools were reported to have been affected. The fall from the previous day's level suggested some easing, but protests and clashes continued in several locations.
Police have used crowd control measures during confrontations with protesters, while authorities have reported incidents involving fireworks, projectiles, fires and attacks on police and school personnel.
Several teenagers have suffered serious injuries during the unrest. In some cases, prosecutors are investigating the circumstances surrounding injuries sustained during police interventions. The exact responsibility for individual incidents remains under investigation.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has held emergency discussions with government officials as authorities attempt to contain the violence while addressing the concerns raised by students.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has called for a firm response to violence and damage, while Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has called for those responsible for offences to face prosecution.
At the same time, Education Minister Édouard Geffray has opened talks with student organisations and parents over their demands.
The government has pointed to increased education spending as evidence that it is responding to concerns about schools. The Education Ministry has announced a budget of about 65.5 billion euros for school education in 2027, an increase of roughly 1.1 billion euros from 2026.
The government says the additional funding will support measures including smaller classes and improvements in teaching provision. Student groups and education unions, however, argue that the increase does not adequately address shortages of teachers and the poor condition of some schools.
The protests have also become politically contentious. The government has accused the left wing La France Insoumise party of exploiting the student movement. The party rejects the accusation and says the protests reflect genuine problems within the education system.
The demonstrations have attracted support from several education unions, while parents' groups have also backed calls for action. Student organisations say the government has not yet provided sufficiently concrete answers to their demands.
Student groups are calling for another national mobilisation on October 6, with several education unions also urging staff to participate.
The coming days will show whether the government can reduce the unrest through negotiations or whether the planned October 6 mobilisation will lead to another escalation.