Protest leaders urge French pupils to keep barricading their schools

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, October 28, 2026

French student leaders have urged continued school blockades and protests despite the government's new package offering class size limits, infrastructure funding, teaching hires, and education system reviews. Their persistence highlights ongoing tensions as negotiations proceed amid broader social unrest involving unions and cost-of-living activists.

French student leaders have called on pupils to continue barricading schools and joining street protests despite a newly announced government package aimed at addressing their demands. The unrest follows more than five weeks of high school blockades and widespread demonstrations, which have evolved into one of the country’s largest youth-led protest movements in recent years.

Pierre Sourzat, representing the student group Les Lycéens, said on Monday that while the government has offered to negotiate, the students remain engaged in a power struggle and require continued mobilisation to achieve comprehensive reforms. “We want measures, not half measures,” Sourzat told France Info television, responding to the government’s proposals.

The French government outlined several key initiatives in response to the crisis, including capping class sizes for 15-year-olds in the first year of high school to 28 students in the most disadvantaged 50% of schools, with plans to extend this limit nationwide next year. Education Minister Édouard Geffray also committed to a €4 billion loan to regional authorities aimed at beginning urgent repairs to school buildings, some of which have been described as dangerously dilapidated, with issues ranging from collapsing ceilings and mould to broken toilets and inadequate furniture.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the government announced it would create more teaching positions and undertake a review of the French baccalaureate system. Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste said the government plans to add 15,000 student places in vocational higher education courses to alleviate pressure on university admissions.

The government also addressed criticism of the university application platform, Parcoursup, which has been accused of lacking transparency and fairness. Officials announced plans to reform the system, with changes taking effect in 2027 and a completely new platform expected to replace it in 2028. Parliament is scheduled to debate the matter on Wednesday.

At a meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Leconte, Louis Letoublon, also representing Les Lycéens, praised the strength of the student protests, stating that the government is responding because it recognizes the need to listen. However, he acknowledged that not all demands have been met and affirmed the intention to continue the protests "for as long as it takes.”

Baptiste emphasized that the government remains open to ongoing dialogue with student groups as the situation develops. Meanwhile, trade unions and cost-of-living protesters have joined the youth movement in regular mass demonstrations, underscoring the broader social unrest in the country.

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.