Tens of thousands of students, parents, and supporters across France took to the streets this week to protest against deteriorating conditions in public schools, particularly in economically disadvantaged suburbs of Paris. The demonstrations highlight concerns over overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and inadequate resources in schools serving marginalized communities.
At Lycee Le Corbusier in Aubervilliers, a suburb north of Paris located in the Seine-Saint-Denis department, students described their schools as being among the worst affected. Maisa, a 17-year-old aspiring English teacher, recounted taking the French baccalaureate exam last year without the benefit of a dedicated French teacher. “These are not conditions to study in,” she said, underscoring the impact of staffing gaps on education quality.
The protests, which began last week in suburban areas, quickly spread to Paris and other cities including Marseille, Strasbourg, Tours, and Lille, encompassing more than 1,200 high schools. Authorities responded to some of the demonstrations with tear gas and rubber bullets, resulting in over 5,000 arrests and several protester injuries, including eye damage, broken teeth, and head trauma. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez condemned the violence as “unacceptable” and called for a return to order.
Protesters voiced grievances over perceived systemic neglect of schools in poorer neighborhoods. Amelia, 15, held a placard stating, “Our address should not decide our future,” and accused education authorities of discriminatory investment practices. Labor union representatives and parent groups similarly pointed to chronic teacher vacancies, unsanitary facilities, and a lack of support staff such as nurses and social workers.
In Seine-Saint-Denis, one of France’s most economically challenged departments, about two-thirds of high schools participated in the protests on October 1, according to the CGT teachers’ union. Karima Kara Ali, an elected parent representative at Lycee Le Corbusier, said that multiple classes including mathematics, humanities, English, and physical education have been canceled this academic year due to insufficient teaching personnel.
Union officials cited recent government cuts of 3,256 teaching positions nationwide for 2026 as a primary factor contributing to the shortages. Louise Paternoster, representing the Seine-Saint-Denis education union branch, argued that the region does not receive adequate resources commensurate with its student population, leading to significant inequalities. “Our students are losing out on study time. Some schools don’t have drinking water,” she said.
Teacher Dilan Roche of a school in Pantin, another northern suburb of Paris, supported the demonstrations alongside her students. She highlighted that overcrowded classes and the absence of nurses and social workers present additional challenges for pupils, especially those with learning difficulties and precarious living conditions.
The current wave of protests marks the most extensive national student mobilization since the 1990s, when similar demonstrations led to initial increases in education funding following an expansion of access to the baccalaureate exam. However, experts such as Clemence Cardon-Quint, a professor specializing in education funding, note that subsequent spending per student has since stagnated despite growing demands on the public education system.
The protests have become a political flashpoint amid President Emmanuel Macron’s government facing widespread backlash over unpopular spending cuts outlined in the 2027 budget, released on October 1. While the education budget is set to increase nominally by 1.7% to €65.53 billion, this rise is below inflation and excludes pension costs for teachers. Education Minister Edouard Guerraud maintains that education remains a government priority, attributing the modest budget increase to demographic declines.
As the demonstrations continue, the crisis underscores longstanding challenges in France’s public education system, particularly the disparities faced by students in marginalized urban areas.