Thousands of students across France have engaged in widespread protests for more than three weeks, calling attention to chronic issues in the country’s education system, including overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of teachers, and deteriorating school facilities. The demonstrations, which began in mid-September, have disrupted hundreds of secondary schools nationwide and drawn support from some teachers and labor unions.

In Paris, large crowds gathered repeatedly at the Place de la Bastille, a site symbolically linked to the French Revolution, where clashes frequently broke out between protesters and police. Authorities deployed tear gas, water cannons, and riot shields to manage confrontations involving protesters throwing debris and makeshift projectiles. More than 500 arrests have been made since the protests began, and dozens of police officers and protesters have been injured, including a notable incident in which a 15-year-old student lost his hand after a stun grenade was used by law enforcement.

The unrest gained renewed momentum when some high schools across the country were blockaded by students demanding urgent government action. According to education officials, around 150 schools were closed on the latest day of protest, a decline from an estimated 900 closures earlier in the week. The movement has revealed stark disparities within the education system, particularly in suburban areas like Seine-Saint-Denis, where poverty and unemployment rates exceed national averages and school conditions are especially precarious.

At the Paul Éluard high school in the north Paris suburb, often cited as a flashpoint of the protests, students and teachers highlighted severe problems such as inadequate classroom space, unreliable electricity, and absent staff. Some classes have gone unstaffed for weeks or even entire school years, with shortages affecting critical roles like psychology and special education. Although regional officials have invested approximately 45 million euros (around $50 million) in renovations and security improvements, many students and educators argue this response falls short of addressing decades-long neglect and ongoing operational challenges.

The protestors have broadened their demands beyond infrastructure, including calls for a fairer national university admission process and opposing government plans to reduce housing benefits and raise tuition for foreign students. The education minister, Édouard Geffray, acknowledged some progress in reducing teaching vacancies over the past year and announced an emergency plan to replace absent teachers, but students remain reluctant to call off their demonstrations until more decisive actions and increased funding—estimated by some protest leaders at around 10 billion euros—are committed.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu addressed the nation, urging students and educators to engage in dialogue and expressing understanding of their frustrations, while pledging to prioritize filling teaching positions and addressing safety concerns in schools. Nonetheless, many protesters dismissed these statements as postponements, vowing to continue their mobilization. The demonstrations coincide with a politically sensitive period as France prepares for its presidential election in April, with concerns that ongoing social unrest may influence the electoral landscape.

The movement has amplified debates over policing tactics during protests, especially concerning the use of force against minors. Following public outcry, the government suspended the use of stun grenades in managing protests. Meanwhile, activists, students, and some local officials argue that the unrest reflects broader societal inequalities and a sense of abandonment felt by youth in underserved communities. The protests have drawn comparisons to the upheavals of May 1968, though observers note the current movement is more narrowly focused on education policy and resource allocation.

As the situation develops, authorities and protest leaders face mounting pressure to find a resolution that addresses both immediate concerns about school conditions and deeper structural issues within France’s public education system.