A student union said on Monday that French children should keep blocking their schools and joining street protests, after the government announced a set of education measures to try to end the crisis. “Today we’re at the negotiating table, we’re able to negotiate with the government,” Pierre Sourzat of Les Lycéens told France Info television. “We’re in a power struggle and we still need to call for continued mobilisation to meet as many of our demands as possible.”
‘This is state violence’: Paris students rage at politicians and heavy-handed policing
The government told high school student representatives it would cap some class sizes and review the university application system. But Sourzat said: “We want measures, not half measures.”
More than five weeks after high school blockades began in September, the government made the proposals to address the demands of what has become the biggest youth protest movement in years. Trade unions and cost-of-living protesters have joined regular mass street demonstrations on Saturdays.
High school pupils had demanded an end to teacher and staff shortages and repairs to dilapidated school buildings with collapsing ceilings, mould, broken toilets, a lack of chairs and windows that did not shut.
The education minister, Édouard Geffray, said some schools were so run-down they were “not fit” for teaching. He announced a government loan of €4bn to regional authorities to begin repairs.
Emmanuel Macron, kneeling centre, meets police officers in Marseille. He told them the authorities had ‘to hold the line’. Photograph: Aurélien Morissard/EPA
Responding to complaints of overcrowded classes, Geffray said class sizes for 15-year-olds in the first year of high school would be capped at 28 in the 50% of schools in the lowest-income areas, extending to all high schools next year. He said more teaching posts would be created and there would be a review of the French baccalaureate system.
The university application platform, Parcoursup, which has been described as opaque and unfair, will be changed in 2027 and replaced by a new system in 2028, according to the government. Parliament will hold a debate on the issue on Wednesday.
The higher education minister, Philippe Baptiste, said 15,000 extra student places would be created in higher education, focusing on vocational courses.
Louis Letoublon, who attended a meeting with the prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, on behalf of Les Lycéens, said: “Bravo to the high school students who have demonstrated. We’ve got something: the government is afraid and knows it must do something and listen to us. Not all our demands were met. We’ll go on for as long as it takes.”
Baptiste said the government’s door was “open” for more discussions.
Several children have been maimed or seriously injured in the protests, allegedly by police explosive weapons. Hundreds of children have been arrested and held in police custody.
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The authorities have increased security measures and placed restrictions on demonstrations after France saw its worst day of violence in years on 17 October, with looting, fires and vandalism of state buildings. Curfews have been put in place in certain cities, alongside protest bans. Protest routes were pushed to the outskirts of cities on Saturday when demonstrations passed off largely peacefully.
The interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, said there had been a new phenomenon in cities such as Nice and Montpellier at the weekend, with far-right groups arriving in “organised formations” and targeting protesters. Eleven suspects are to face charges.
In a visit to Marseille on Monday, Emmanuel Macron said nationwide street protests were likely to continue, and that the next day of street demonstrations on 31 October would alThe French president said the looting and vandalism on 17 October should never happen again. Speaking to police officers, he said it was “not normal” for the country to be in “such a state of turmoil” six months before a presidential election. Macron steps down next spring, and the far-right leader Marine Le Pen is leading in the polls. Macron said: “We will continue to hold the line. If we all do our jobs well, this movement will subside – because we will address legitimate expectations and because order will be maintained. But nothing is a foregone conclusion.” Authorities have admitted to security and intelligence failures that paved the way for the clashes on 17 October.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Protest Leaders Urging French Students to Keep Blocking Schools
1 What is happening with French students and school blockades
Protest leaders in France are calling on students to continue blocking their schools as a form of demonstration against government policies
2 What does blocking a school mean
It means students and protesters physically prevent classes from running normally for example by standing at entrances barricading gates or refusing to let people in or out
3 Why are students blocking schools
The blockades are a protest tactic Leaders say the goal is to pressure the government to change its policies The specific demands depend on the movement but blockades are usually tied to issues like education funding reforms or national politics
4 Who are the protest leaders
They are typically student union representatives and organizers of the protest movement who coordinate actions and encourage participation
5 Is blocking a school legal in France
Blocking a school is generally not legal since it disrupts public services and can restrict peoples freedom of movement However it is a common protest tactic in France and authorities often tolerate it for a time before intervening
6 Do all students support the blockades
No Support varies Some students join the protests while others want to attend class and may feel pressured or frustrated by the closures
7 What problems can blockades cause
They can cancel classes disrupt exams and schedules create tensions between students and sometimes lead to confrontations with police or school staff
8 What is a blockade versus a strike
A strike is when people refuse to work or study A blockade is a physical action that stops a place from operating In France the two are often combined during protests
9 How long do blockades usually last
It varies widely from a single day to several weeks depending on how much support the movement has and how the government responds
10 What should a student do if their school is blocked
Check official school communications stay informed through reliable news sources and avoid confrontations at the entrance If classes are cancelled follow the schools instructions for remote work or rescheduling
11 How do authorities typically respond
Responses range from negotiation and dialogue to police intervention to clear entrances especially if the blockade blocks access or turns violent
