France Closes Nearly 400 Schools as Student Protests Intensify Nationwide

Nearly 400 schools and educational establishments across France were expected to remain closed on Friday, October 2, as student protests over long school hours, teacher shortages and deteriorating facilities spread beyond the Paris region and disrupted education in several parts of the country.

The demonstrations, which began in the Paris region in late September, have expanded nationwide, with students blocking school entrances and demanding improvements to learning conditions. The unrest has also escalated in some locations, resulting in clashes with police, damage to property, injuries and arrests.

French Education Minister Édouard Geffray said a little over 400 schools and other educational establishments were expected to be closed on Friday out of approximately 3,700 nationwide. Some schools planned to move lessons online to minimise disruption and protect students and staff.

Students have raised concerns about excessively long timetables, overcrowded classrooms, unfilled teaching positions and school buildings in poor condition. Some have also complained about overheated classrooms and insufficient resources, arguing that the problems are affecting their education and daily school experience.

The national student mobilisation began around September 21 and gained momentum as demonstrations spread to other cities. Student representatives have called for more teachers and staff, improvements to school infrastructure and action to address the pressures pupils face within the education system.

The authorities have acknowledged that some of the complaints deserve attention but have condemned violence associated with the demonstrations. Geffray said the protest movement had been taken over by violent fringe groups, arguing that attacks on school staff and damage to educational facilities were unacceptable.

At least 65 education workers had been injured since the start of the movement, including 40 school principals, according to figures cited by the education minister. The incidents have heightened concerns about the safety of students and staff as blockades and confrontations continue.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said approximately 2,000 people had been taken into police custody since the protests began, with around 90 per cent of those detained reportedly being minors. He also said he had asked prosecutors to consider holding parents financially responsible for damage caused by their children during the unrest.

The government has faced the challenge of responding to students’ complaints while restoring order around affected schools. Authorities have urged parents to discourage children from entering dangerous confrontations, particularly where fires, clashes or other incidents have occurred.

The protests have also become politically contentious. Government figures have alleged that far-left political actors helped initiate or intensify the movement, while representatives of La France Insoumise have rejected accusations that they were responsible for the unrest. The claims remain contested, and the presence of political disputes does not by itself establish who is responsible for individual acts of violence.

The disruption has raised broader questions about the state of school infrastructure, staffing levels and the pressures facing French secondary-school students. However, the specific demands vary between schools, meaning that the grievances and circumstances are not necessarily identical across the country.

With hundreds of establishments affected, the immediate priority for authorities is to restore safe access to schools and limit disruption to lessons. Whether the protests lead to wider changes in staffing, school facilities or timetables will depend on subsequent discussions between the government, education workers and student representatives.