Protests by students and pupils across France have intensified, with widespread blockades, clashes, and fires disrupting schools and universities amid ongoing opposition to government austerity measures. The unrest, which began on September 21, saw hundreds of educational institutions affected by blockades or violence on Wednesday alone, prompting Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to convene an inter-ministerial crisis meeting at the interior ministry.

Authorities reported over 1,000 incidents nationwide linked to the protests, which have resulted in more than 600 arrests and injuries to at least 83 police officers and gendarmes, alongside 119 students and staff. In the Paris region, more than 200 secondary schools were impacted, with approximately 50 experiencing violence or property damage. Regional officials estimated repair costs at over €1 million.

The protests are primarily driven by grievances related to overcrowded classrooms, teacher absences, inadequate school facilities, and dissatisfaction with Parcoursup, France’s controversial university admissions system. Students have also opposed cuts to housing benefits and broader underfunding within higher education. On Wednesday, university students intensified the demonstrations, blocking access to around 30 campuses nationwide.

Adding to tensions, a fire broke out at a sixth-form college in Nantes when flames from a burning bin spread into the building. Meanwhile, public transportation in Marseille was suspended following vandalism and attacks on drivers associated with the protests. Similar blockades took place in cities including Besançon, Toulouse, and Strasbourg.

In response to the escalating conflict, a left-wing student union affiliated with the France Unbowed movement, led by presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon, published a guide outlining how to organize school and university blockades. The guide encouraged early morning actions, use of placards and loudspeakers, documentation of events, and legal preparedness in case of arrests. The union characterized such blockades as legitimate forms of protest, denying their illegality despite government assertions otherwise.

Conservative voices have strongly criticized the unrest. Christelle Morançais, president of the Pays de la Loire region, condemned widespread violence and accused protesters of exploiting the situation for political ends. Conversely, Andy Kerbrat, an MP from France Unbowed, blamed individuals outside the student protests for initiating the Nantes fire.

The government has accused France Unbowed of inciting the disturbances, with Prime Minister Lecornu describing the movement’s actions as an "irresponsible escalation." Mélenchon countered by accusing the government of repressing the protests with racial undertones. The unrest has become an early flashpoint in the upcoming presidential race, with Marine Le Pen of the National Rally attributing significant responsibility to Mélenchon for encouraging insurrection. Conservative candidate Bruno Retailleau called for France Unbowed to be banned, labeling it a party organizing an insurrection.

The protests coincide with debate over a contentious austerity budget aimed at addressing France’s rising public debt, currently at €3.6 trillion or 119 percent of GDP. The government plans €54 billion in savings for 2027, including the introduction of new annual fees for certain vocational and preparatory students. Mélenchon criticized the timing of these charges as deliberately provocative amidst the turmoil. Officials remain wary that the unrest could expand beyond education, fueled by rising fuel prices and declining household purchasing power.