Why are French students taking to the streets? About 400 schools closed as protests spread across the country

Around 400 high schools across France were closed on Friday, October 2, as a fast-growing student protest movement against education conditions escalated into clashes, fires and blockades.

Why are schools closed in France?

The closures affect around 400 of France’s 3,700 secondary schools, with the education ministry saying classes at affected institutions will be moved online where possible. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said the decision was primarily intended to protect students and staff after violence was reported at several schools.

Demonstrators hold a banner reading ‘high school blocked’ during student protests in Lyon, eastern France on October 2, 2026. Since late September, students have been staging protests outside schools over grievances ranging from timetables, class sizes and teacher shortages to overheated classrooms during this year’s heatwave. The protests started in the Ile-de-France region around Paris, but have now spread to other cities across the country. (Photo by Alex MARTIN/AFP)(AFP)

The protests began in the Paris region in late September and have since spread to cities including Marseille, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Rennes, Lille and Nantes. Students block school entrances and demand more teachers, smaller classes, better maintained buildings and more resources for schools.

Their complaints are not limited to the staff. Students also expressed concerns about long school days, excessively overheated classrooms during periods of high temperatures, inadequate equipment and buildings in urgent need of repair.

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At a school in Strasbourg, one 17-year-old student told AFP that classes could hold up to 35 pupils, while some rooms were leaking water and the cafeteria was too small. The student also complained about the lack of resources and leaders.

The scale of the mobilization has increased sharply this week. More than 1,020 schools were affected by strikes or protests on Thursday, including 222 blockades, although not all were closed, according to Le Monde newspaper. Newspapers reported that nearly 1,950 people were arrested on Thursday as some demonstrations turned violent.

Demonstrators take part in a student protest in Saint-Pierre on the French overseas island of La Reunion on October 2, 2026. Since late September, students have been staging protests outside schools over grievances ranging from timetables, class sizes and teacher shortages to overheated classrooms during this year’s heatwave. The protests started in the Ile-de-France region around Paris, but have now spread to other cities across the country. (Photo by Richard BOUHET / AFP)(AFP)

How did the protests turn violent?

While the movement began with demands for education, several demonstrations since then have included clashes with police and damage to public property.

Tear gas was used in Strasbourg as police confronted protesters, while fireworks were reportedly aimed at police lines in Marseille. Trash cans were set on fire in Rennes and other cities. In Nantes, a fire damaged the entrance to a school, while authorities in Marseille reported fires in two schools.

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One of the most serious incidents was reported at Saint-Exupery High School in Marseille, where a group surrounded a fire truck responding to a fire and forced the firefighters away before setting the vehicle on fire. In another school in the city, a teacher was allegedly doused with petrol during an incident with protesters.

The violence also created tensions over the police. French authorities said an investigation had been launched into allegations of excessive force involving police after students were reportedly injured by anti-riot measures. Le Monde reported that 65 teaching staff and 170 students had been injured since the movement began, according to Geffray.

What is the French government doing?

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called an emergency session on Thursday and asked ministers to cancel planned trips to focus on the unrest.

The government also moved to limit demonstrations around schools, which were supposed to remain closed on Friday.

Geffray said the students’ initial complaints were legitimate, but argued that violent groups had taken control of parts of the movement. He announced meetings with student and parent organizations, unions and high school student representatives as part of the government’s attempt to reopen dialogue.

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The protests also clashed with a difficult budget debate. The government this week presented its draft budget for 2027, which seeks to reduce France’s deficit, with spending cuts becoming a major source of tension. Reuters reported that the planned 1.7% increase in the education budget is below inflation, fueling criticism that schools will not receive enough funding to address staffing and infrastructure issues.

The immediate priority for now remains ensuring the safety of students and staff. However, the ongoing closures show that the dispute has gone beyond isolated school blockades to become a national confrontation of the French education system.