Macron offers €5bn funding package amid French student protests

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 27, 2026

The French government unveiled a €5 billion plan to renovate universities and improve lycée facilities in response to widespread student protests over poor conditions and overcrowding. Although the funding aims to address urgent infrastructure needs by 2031, student groups have rejected the offer and vowed to continue demonstrations demanding further investment.

The French government has proposed a €5 billion funding package aimed at addressing unrest among students and sixth-form pupils who have been protesting across the country for the past month. The plan includes €1 billion allocated for renovating universities and a further €4 billion in loans to regional councils responsible for upgrading lycée buildings.

The protests, which began in lycées—schools serving students in the final three years of secondary education—stem from grievances over teacher shortages, deteriorating facilities, and overcrowded classrooms. The unrest has at times disrupted daily life and led to incidents such as looting in Marseille on October 17, where President Emmanuel Macron visited this week.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held discussions with representatives from both lycée and university student movements as part of efforts to quell tensions. Lecornu detailed that around 50 universities would be renovated through the €1 billion package by 2031. Meanwhile, regional councils would be able to borrow up to €4 billion to address issues such as leaking roofs and inadequate temperature control in school buildings.

Despite these measures, reactions from student groups were mixed. Manon Moret, general secretary of the National Union of Students of France, described the government’s response as “totally clueless” and pledged that hundreds of thousands of young people would continue to take part in protests scheduled for the coming week. Student unions demand an additional €10 billion investment in education beyond the current proposal.

Louis Letoublon, representing Les Lycéens, a sixth-form student union, viewed the government’s offer as a sign of weakness. He said the protests had secured concessions and suggested that students could leverage their momentum to push for greater funding.

President Macron, who is set to leave office next spring, acknowledged the severity of the unrest, noting that it was “not normal for the country to be at boiling point six months before a presidential election.” Authorities continue to navigate mounting pressure from youth activists demanding better educational resources and conditions.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.