Protests by French students over conditions in the country’s schools have intensified, drawing participants from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and prompting a strong response from authorities. Demonstrations began on September 17 and have since spread across several cities, including Paris and Metz, spotlighting longstanding concerns about overcrowded classrooms, complicated schedules, and inadequate facilities.

The grievances raised by students align with recent data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which highlights systemic issues in French education. According to the 2025 PISA figures, 45 percent of students in France have had their learning disrupted due to teacher absences—higher than the OECD average of 39 percent. Additionally, 25 percent have experienced problems related to poor infrastructure such as outdated buildings and faulty heating or lighting systems. The French government acknowledged in 2023 that roughly 10 percent of schools are in a state of disrepair, often linked to the age of the buildings.

Despite these challenges, France’s investment in education remains comparatively high. The OECD reports that France allocated 4.5 percent of its GDP to education in 2023, supplemented by 0.8 percent from private sources. This outpaces the OECD average of 4 percent public spending and 0.6 percent private. Spending per student in general lycées stands at about $16,674 annually, exceeding the OECD average of $12,421. However, these higher expenditures have not translated into better academic results; France ranks below the United Kingdom in key subjects such as science, reading, and mathematics. Experts suggest that bureaucratic fragmentation—where local councils fund infrastructure but central authorities manage staffing—and the large number of schools relative to population size may contribute to inefficiencies.

Protests in Paris have included high-profile actions such as barricading Lycée Sophie Germain in the Marais district with makeshift obstructions, and blocking entrances to prestigious institutions like Lycée Louis-le-Grand, alma mater to former presidents Jacques Chirac and Valéry Giscard d’Estaing. Students expressed solidarity across socio-economic divides, with participants from well-off districts joining those from under-resourced suburbs. Jean-Philippe, a 16-year-old protester, emphasized that the movement aims to pressure the government to improve school conditions. Françoise, 17, from the Marais, pointed to systemic inequities as a key issue driving the unrest.

The demonstrations have sometimes turned violent. Police used tear gas at Place de la Nation to disperse remaining protesters, resulting in 12 arrests. Since the protests began, over 200 teenagers and hundreds of police officers and educators have been injured. Notable incidents include a teenager severely injured by a police grenade and another reportedly blinded by a rubber bullet. Authorities in Metz are investigating claims of sexual assault by a police officer during an arrest, and one officer has been formally charged with causing bodily harm leading to permanent disability after allegedly firing a tear gas grenade directly at a 14-year-old protester. Additionally, a 15-year-old boy has been detained in connection with an assault on a policewoman, an attack that was recorded and shared on social media.

Political figures have responded to the unrest, with Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure joining a march in Paris. Faure described the students’ demands as legitimate and called for limits of 19 pupils per class to promote equal educational opportunities. As protests continue, it remains to be seen how the government will address the deep-rooted structural issues fueling the unrest.