Dozens of students sat on a pile of wheelie bins blocking the entrance to a high school in north-eastern Paris. Sophia, 17, was at the front of the barricade when she would normally have been in Spanish class. “We hope this becomes a huge youth protest movement,” said the final-year student at Lycée Voltaire in Paris, who asked that her real name not be used. It was her second day blocking the school entrance with hundreds of others, making sure all classes were cancelled. “We just want the government to listen to us. We’d rather stand here than learn in poor conditions. It’s the only way to make ourselves heard.”
“School is a right, not a privilege,” read a cardboard sign as Sophia listed the complaints of teenagers across France: too little state funding for education, classes of up to 40 children in crumbling buildings, low teacher pay, staff shortages, and an unequal system where social background determines success. Other reasons for the protest included the confusing and difficult online university application system, and unbearable classroom temperatures during the May and June heatwaves.
“The education budget is being cut to shreds while so much extra money is going to the army,” said Sophia, who wants to study art and work in animation. She said she hoped the demonstrations and blockades would continue into next week. Several teachers stood by the barricades in support.
The French government is struggling with its worst crisis in months after being caught off guard by thousands of teenagers protesting outside schools across the country this week. Students’ unions say the education system is underfunded and neglected. Hundreds of high schools were closed or barricaded on Friday, and hundreds of young people have been arrested as the movement threatens to continue into next week.
Many student protesters have accused the state of neglecting secondary education, describing difficult classroom conditions with ceilings partly collapsing during class, leaks, cockroaches, and buildings in disrepair. Others have mentioned excessively long school days and a lack of teachers.
The government said the complaints were legitimate but condemned what it called “urban violence”. Students have accused police of using excessive force and causing injuries by regularly firing teargas canisters to break up protests. On Friday morning in Paris, fires damaged the entrances of two high schools – Léonard de Vinci in the south and Gaston-Bachelard in the south-east.
Several students have been injured in the protests, and the education ministry said 65 education staff were injured, including 40 school principals. An investigation is under way after a 14-year-old boy in Val d’Oise suffered serious injuries to his mouth and jaw when police allegedly beat him and fired a rubber-bullet launcher. The family’s lawyer said the boy thought he was “going to die”.
Outside Lycée Voltaire, riot police stood guard on Friday during a quiet demonstration by hundreds of children. “We’re completely peaceful,” said Yves, a 17-year-old final-year student who did not want his name published. He would normally have been in history class but said his parents fully supported him being on the barricade. He wants to study catering next year.
“The atmosphere on this barricade is usually very calm,” he said. “But other people from outside the school have come by and tried to set fire to things, so we’ve tried to move the bins to stop that.”
On Friday morning, loud bangs rang outBut some people farther away from the school set off firework mortars. Yves said: “Yesterday I heard bangs going off every two minutes. It’s loud and scary when things are fired horizontally instead of up into the air. There were people provoking running battles with police, but they weren’t pupils from our school.”
Camille, 18, who said she wanted to become a teacher, said pupils were also protesting the French government’s lack of action over poor results in international education rankings. “France has disastrous results, yet we’re one of the countries with the longest school days,” she said. “The government refuses to see that it’s about quality, not the number of teaching hours.”
Farther east, on the barricade outside the Lycée Hélène Boucher, students were singing and holding cardboard signs in support of people in Gaza, as well as banners against far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, who is riding high in the polls.
Sofiane, 19, who was studying literature, said students feared the government would scrap its special €1 meals for struggling students and cut housing aid. “We’re also protesting about the conditions in the heatwave,” he said. “It was unbearable sitting exams in 35C-40C heat — even the teachers said those were impossible conditions.”
He said the demonstrations were likely to continue. “Young people just want to study and learn in decent conditions. The French state seems surprised about worsening school results, but they’re doing nothing to fix that.”
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Fires Anger and Hundreds of Arrests as Student Protests Grip France
1 What is happening in France right now
Large student protests have broken out across France Crowds have clashed with police fires have been set and hundreds of people have been arrested
2 Why are students protesting
Students are angry about government policies affecting themthings like education funding pension changes or other reforms they say will hurt young people
3 Where are the protests taking place
In major cities like Paris Lyon Marseille and Toulouse as well as on university campuses nationwide
4 How many people have been arrested
Hundreds The exact number changes daily as protests continue
5 Why are there fires
Some protesters have set fires to block streets burn trash bins or damage property Fires are often used as barricades or as a way to draw attention
6 Are the protests mostly peaceful
Many protests are peaceful marches But in some areas small groups turn violentclashing with police throwing objects and starting fires
7 What are students demanding
Typically reversing unpopular reforms more funding for education better conditions for students and sometimes broader political change
8 Is it safe to travel to France right now
Major tourist areas are usually fine but avoid protest zones Check your governments travel advice before going
9 What should I do if Im caught near a protest
Leave the area calmly Dont run Avoid confrontations with police Follow local news and official alerts
10 Why do French protests often turn violent
France has a strong tradition of street protest Tensions rise when police use force and when small violent groups join in Both sides can escalate things
11 What is tear gas and is it dangerous
Tear gas is a chemical that irritates eyes skin and lungs Its not usually deadly but can be serious for people with asthma or breathing problems If exposed move to fresh air rinse eyes with water dont rub
12 What does hundreds of arrests mean legally
Police can detain people for questioning then release them or charge them Charges might include vandalism
