High school students across France staged nationwide protests and blockades of schools. They were protesting against overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and grueling class schedules. On Tuesday, the protests turned violent in several cities, leading to repeated clashes with the police. Authorities reported that over 400 students—mostly aged between 15 and 18—were detained, and at least 48 police officers were injured in the confrontations. The Guardian reported these details online.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated in a television interview that 440 people were detained nationwide, with two-thirds subsequently placed in formal police custody. Protests spread to approximately 400 schools across the country on Tuesday. Demonstrators set fire to trash bins and vandalized bus stops. Police used tear gas and baton charges to bring the situation under control. Similar clashes were reported in cities such as Lille, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Nantes. Outside the Lamartine school in Paris, students voiced their anger holding placards reading, “Classes from 8 AM to 6 PM; more time in class than sleeping.”
This widespread student unrest emerged amidst a nationwide strike by public sector employees protesting the French government’s plan to cut the public service budget by 54 million euros. Major teachers’ unions have also come out in support of the student movement. Approximately 40 percent of primary school teachers joined the strike and halted work. Students stated that the educational process is being hampered by a lack of adequate teachers and resources, as well as the strain of having 32 to 35 students per class.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned any form of violence on school premises, describing the actions as “irresponsible.” Meanwhile, the country’s far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has sharply criticized the government’s harsh crackdown, condemning the police use of force against students as racist and irresponsible. However, the Prime Minister has rejected these allegations, asserting that the safety of students is the government’s top priority.
