French Student Protests Continue as Government Promises New Teachers

For the tenth day in a row, thousands of high school students across France have taken to the streets to demand improvements to the national education system. Demonstrations took place in cities including Lille, Rennes, Nantes, Lyon, Toulon, and Marseille. In Paris, a large crowd gathered at the Place de la Bastille, where some students climbed the monument to wave flags and sing the national anthem. According to The Guardian, more than 71,000 people participated in the protests on Thursday.

The students are calling for urgent investment to fix long-standing issues, including teacher shortages, long school hours, and buildings that are in poor condition. Some student groups have stated that the government needs to invest 10 billion euros to properly address these problems. While many students have held peaceful marches, others have blockaded school entrances with trash bins, and some have set fires or damaged bus shelters. The Interior Ministry reported that police have detained more than 500 people during the most recent wave of protests.

In response to the growing pressure, the French government has announced new measures. Education Minister Édouard Geffray told TF1 television that 3,000 substitute teachers would be sent to about 100 high schools facing the most serious staff shortages. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also promised that the government would propose changes to the 2027 budget to address student demands. However, these promises have not yet ended the movement. Student leaders, including Ryad Rani, have dismissed the government's response as insufficient, noting that they have not seen any concrete plans to solve the core issues.

The relationship between the protesters and the police has become a major point of tension. In many cities, riot police used tear gas and water cannons to clear crowds. Some students have been injured, and there is growing anger over the use of force. One banner at the Paris march read, "Too young to be listened to, but old enough to be teargassed." According to Deutsche Welle, the government recently suspended the use of stun grenades—a type of device used to create a loud noise and bright light to confuse people—following an incident where a teenager was seriously injured. Human rights groups have also criticized the police for using what they describe as excessive force.

Despite the violence, the students have received support from many teachers, parents, and labor unions. An Elabe poll for BFM TV found that 72% of French people believe the students’ demands are legitimate. However, the public is divided on the methods used by the protesters, with 55% of those surveyed saying the demonstrations should stop. The education ministry reported that while some schools were forced to close, about 95% of the country’s high schools remained at least partly open on Thursday.

As the situation continues, the government faces a difficult challenge. Prime Minister Lecornu has publicly expressed concern over the violence, mentioning that staff have been attacked and schools damaged. He has promised to present a more complete, fully funded plan by the end of October. Meanwhile, student unions have already called for another national day of action next Tuesday. For students like 16-year-old Eliane, who marched in Paris, the goal remains clear: she plans to continue protesting until she sees real, lasting progress in the quality of French schools.