Introduction
Public education is one of the most important arenas for ensuring equality of opportunity and building trust between citizens and government institutions. The quality of schools, access to teachers, and the availability of a safe learning environment influence not only academic achievement but also young people’s perceptions of social justice and their prospects for building a better future. From this perspective, protests over educational conditions may reflect concerns extending beyond the everyday challenges of school life, raising broader questions about government priorities and the extent to which young people’s demands are taken into account.
The recent student protests in France have likewise brought discussions about educational resources and facilities into connection with issues such as adolescents’ social participation, the accountability of public institutions, and the authorities’ response to protest gatherings. Under these circumstances, the government faces the challenge of addressing educational demands amid financial and political constraints. At the same time, the management of protests and the protection of participants’ safety have become increasingly important. The involvement of families, teachers, and civil society organizations, together with media coverage of developments, has made the issue part of a wider public debate about the future of education in France.
Incidents
In recent years, France has faced numerous economic and infrastructural challenges. Amid weak economic growth, the French government has come under pressure to reduce public debt. Moreover, following the 2022 parliamentary elections, when the coalition supporting Emmanuel Macron lost its absolute majority in the National Assembly, the government faced growing political and parliamentary constraints on its ability to advance its agenda. These difficulties intensified after the 2024 snap elections, which further reduced the presidential coalition’s parliamentary representation, making budget approval and policy implementation increasingly challenging[1]. Education has been among the sectors most affected by these circumstances. Regarding educational funding, data from the Île-de-France region indicate a decline in the purchasing power of operating allocations for public high schools. In an article published on October 12, 2026, in the specialist education publication Le Café pédagogique, Céline Malaisé, a member of the Île-de-France Regional Council, reported that regional operating allocations for public high schools are projected to decline by 13.5% in real terms between 2021 and 2027. According to her analysis, while inflation was projected at 2.5% for 2026 and 1.7% for 2027, these allocations were set to increase by only 0.68% between the two years[2].
Against this backdrop, the wave of student protests in France began in mid-September 2026, following demonstrations by teachers and students at Lycée Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry in Créteil, a suburb of Paris. On September 21, students at the school blockaded its entrance, and the movement spread to other parts of France in late September and early October through further high school blockades and street demonstrations. Students protested against unsafe and unsanitary school buildings, overcrowded classrooms, timetables they described as unbearable, staff shortages, and the failure to provide regular replacements for absent teachers. Some also challenged the ban on mobile phone use in schools[3]. Students have drawn attention to deteriorating classrooms that lack basic facilities such as desks and chairs, become extremely hot during summer because they lack air-conditioning systems, and, in some cases, are infested with rats. Staff shortages and overwhelming workloads involving homework and other school assignments have been among the other common grievances. Notably, compulsory classroom hours for French high school students are among the highest in Europe[4].
As the high school student protests spread across France, media outlets published images in recent weeks showing hundreds of protest placards bearing slogans such as “8 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Are We at School or in Police Custody?”, “Less Police, More Funding”, and “The Country’s Future Depends on Education.” Against this backdrop, Diane Di Sciullo, a high school teacher, joined students in Marseille and said that all they wanted was a proper education under appropriate conditions. Criticizing overcrowding, she explained that she had 37 students in her class this year. She stated: ” At the start of every lesson, I have to ask them to check the neighbouring classrooms for spare chairs and desks so they can actually study”[5]. Another female teacher taking part in the march said: “We are here to support the students’ demands, which are the same as our own.” She added: “We are also here to protect them, accompany them, and guide them, given what has happened in recent days, particularly the police violence, which is unacceptable”[6]. Emma Khelil, an 18-year-old university student, had come to support those gathered behind the protest barricades outside her former high school. She told The Associated Press that she was deeply concerned about police violence. Khelil stated: “We’re here to defend our rights, not to lose an eye or a hand.” She also reported having observed insulation problems and water leaks in the school building and having occasionally seen rats. Other students confirmed that they, too, had seen rats at the school[7].
Meanwhile, Le Monde has suggested that images of police confrontations with students have drawn new groups of young people into the movement, along with many adults who were “outraged” or even “appalled” by the repression of this youth-led mobilization[8]. The participation of teachers and parents in demonstrations, alongside clashes between police and protesters, has broadened the movement’s social and political dimensions. According to Reuters, tear gas filled the streets of Strasbourg, fireworks were aimed at police lines in Marseille, and garbage bins were set on fire in Rennes[9].
In response, the French government acknowledged the legitimacy of students’ grievances but condemned what it described as “urban violence.” Student protesters have accused the police of excessive use of force and of causing injuries through the repeated deployment of tear gas to disperse demonstrations. A considerable number of students, school staff, and police officers have been injured during the protests. By October 2, the French Ministry of National Education had reported injuries to 65 education staff members, including 40 school principals. As the protests continued, these figures increased. According to an October 16 report by The Associated Press, the French government stated that more than 150 teachers and other school staff members and more than 900 police officers had been injured. Amid these developments, on September 28, 2026, a 14-year-old boy named Eden suffered a fractured jaw and severe dental injuries in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, in the Val-d’Oise department, after being struck in the face by a tear gas grenade fired from a police launcher. According to published footage and reports, one police officer swung a baton at the teenager during the confrontation, while another fired a Cougar grenade launcher at close range. The teenager’s family has filed a complaint alleging attempted murder, and the officer who fired the projectile has been placed under formal judicial investigation on suspicion of violence resulting in permanent disability or mutilation[10].
During protests in Lens on October 5, 2026, a 15-year-old boy named Evan lost his left hand and sustained injuries to other parts of his body following the explosion of a stun grenade used by riot police. Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the circumstances of the incident. Prosecutors stated that preliminary evidence suggested the teenager had picked up the grenade after it landed on the ground. His lawyer, however, rejected this account and maintained that her client had not participated in any violence. The teenager’s family has also initiated legal proceedings to establish the possible responsibility of police officers, while investigations into the details of the incident remain ongoing[11]. In light of these incidents, trade unions and human rights organizations have accused the police of using unnecessary force against young protesters in recent days. Amnesty International has likewise called on the French authorities to “end disproportionate police repression”[12].
The scale of law enforcement and judicial measures taken in response to the protests is also reflected in the published statistics. According to figures released by the French Ministry of Justice, updated through October 8, 2026, a total of 6,877 people had been taken into police custody, of whom 86%, or 5,890 individuals, were minors. Of those detained, 2,376 faced criminal prosecution, including 1,923 minors and 453 adults. In addition, 1,897 alternatives to prosecution were implemented, of which 1,708 involved minors and 189 involved adults. These measures include conditional criminal warnings, compensation for damages, restrictions on entering specified locations, and unpaid community service. Furthermore, according to an October 16 report by The Associated Press, the number of investigations into allegations of police violence and misconduct had reached 36 by October 13, 2026. Cases under investigation or the subject of complaints include an alleged collision between a police vehicle and a 14-year-old girl in Dunkirk, a collision involving a police officer’s motorcycle and a journalist in Montpellier, an allegation that a student was struck directly on the head with a baton in Marseille, and the violent treatment of a protester in Paris. According to published reports, more than 200 students have also been injured during the demonstrations. Nevertheless, investigations into the potential criminal and disciplinary liability of officers involved in disputed incidents remain ongoing[13].
Challenges and Responses
- Budgetary Constraints and Financial Resource Shortages
One of the main challenges facing the French government in addressing students’ demands is the limitation of financial resources amid rising public debt and borrowing costs. As the French Parliament considers the 2027 budget, the government of Sébastien Lecornu faces the difficult task of balancing austerity measures aimed at containing the budget deficit with demands for increased investment in public services[14]. In its analysis, Reuters explains that previous French governments had helped defuse protests by increasing public spending, but investors’ growing concerns about debt now limit the scope for adopting this approach again[15]. Nevertheless, according to an official document issued by the French Ministry of National Education, the proposed 2027 budget allocates €64 billion to the ministry, excluding pension contributions. On a comparable basis, this represents an increase of €1.2 billion over 2026[16]. Financial pressures have therefore coincided with a proposed increase in overall educational appropriations.
However, an increase in the overall budget does not necessarily translate into more permanent teachers or an immediate resolution of staffing shortages in schools. Alongside increased appropriations and the creation of certain new teaching and support positions, the 2027 draft budget also provides for the elimination of 1,588 permanent teaching posts. The government has justified this reduction by pointing to the declining student population, while education unions have warned of its consequences amid existing staff shortages. Accordingly, the central challenge concerns not only the overall size of the budget but also the composition of expenditure, the regional distribution of resources, and the alignment of staffing levels with schools’ actual needs. Regarding educational infrastructure, a report by the French publication Localtis indicates that the proposed 2027 budget allocates approximately €661 million in government grants to regions for the construction, renovation, and equipment of high schools, a funding line whose allocation has remained unchanged for years[17]. Taken together, this evidence suggests that a comprehensive and immediate response to students’ demands faces financial constraints and will depend on spending priorities established at both national and regional levels.
- Domestic Responses
In response to the student protests, the French Ministry of National Education announced on October 6, 2026, that a nationwide consultation would be conducted through the Agora platform until October 23, allowing students to submit their concerns and proposals anonymously. Édouard Geffray, the Minister of National Education, explained that the initiative was intended to gather a broad range of student perspectives and develop practical responses with their participation. The announcement also included a letter dated October 4 from Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, outlining five priorities for government action: ensuring the availability of substitute teachers and the regular delivery of lessons, improving school buildings and facilities, reorganizing school timetables, increasing the transparency of the university admissions platform Parcoursup, and ensuring effective follow-up on students’ proposals. The prime minister also requested that the first decisions, together with their estimated costs, funding sources, and implementation schedules, be presented by the end of October. At the same time, he emphasized the need to listen to students’ legitimate concerns while taking firm action against violence, and announced that consideration of a proposal requiring those responsible for property destruction to bear the costs of the damage would be accelerated. Resuming classes in schools where safety conditions and the state of buildings permitted was also among the government’s stated priorities[18].
Alongside these consultation initiatives, the French Ministry of National Education announced an emergency plan on October 8 to address teacher shortages. Under the plan, more than 3,000 substitute teachers are to be deployed to high schools facing the most pressing needs. Authorization has also been granted to recruit several hundred additional staff members and allocate hundreds of thousands of overtime hours to cover short-term teacher absences. Beyond these measures, the government has also announced reforms to the mechanisms through which students participate in educational decision-making. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on how they are implemented, how personnel are distributed, and whether funding can be sustained[19].
The French Human Rights League (Ligue des droits de l’Homme, LDH), in a joint statement with international human rights organizations, including the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), published on October 9, 2026, under the title “France: Violent Repression of the High School Student Movement,” condemned police and judicial actions against protesting students. Nathalie Tehio, president of the LDH, referred to reports from the organization’s observers concerning attacks on journalists and the firing of grenades toward independent observers during the October 6 demonstrations. She described these actions as threats to press freedom and independent oversight of police conduct. Calling for a fundamental review of protest policing practices, she emphasized that the severe injuries sustained by teenagers could have been prevented. The organization also criticized the characterization of social protests as “urban violence,” arguing that this framing encourages an exclusively repressive response. The signatories called for special protections for children, independent and impartial investigations into allegations of unlawful or disproportionate use of force, and a ban on weapons capable of causing mutilation[20].
Subsequently, in a report dated October 12, the specialist education publication Le Café pédagogique described widespread support for the student protests among education unions. According to the report, representatives of trade unions and student organizations attending a meeting in Paris on October 10 emphasized the need to sustain the mobilization and pursue shared demands. Ryad Rani, a representative of the Union Syndicale Lycéenne (High School Students’ Union), characterized the government’s response as a series of publicity-driven promises intended to buy time and announced the preparation of ten proposals accompanied by cost estimates and possible sources of funding. Representatives of education unions also called for sustained investment, meaningful teacher participation in decision-making, and transparency in university admission criteria. Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of the SNES-FSU, regarded the involvement of families and education organizations alongside students as an opportunity to influence the public debate over the future of education in France in 2027[21].
- International Responses
In a report published on October 11, 2026, titled “Teen revolt or revolution? The student protests threatening France’s presidential race,” Euronews examined the possibility that the protests could develop into a broader social movement. Referring to the presence of demonstrators at Place de la Bastille and its historical symbolism in the French Revolution, the outlet questioned whether the current movement would remain limited in scope or attract other segments of society. Drawing a comparison with May 1968, the report recalled how the participation of millions of workers in student demonstrations had transformed that movement into a general strike and a political crisis. Euronews identified support from trade unions and the coincidence of the protests with widespread dissatisfaction over living costs as factors that could potentially facilitate the movement’s expansion. It also examined the possible consequences against the backdrop of governmental fragility and the presidential election contest. However, the report did not suggest that a revolution was inevitable. Instead, citing a sociologist’s assessment that the protests might lose momentum during the school holidays, it emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the movement’s future trajectory[22].
Amnesty International, in a statement dated October 5, 2026, titled “France: Authorities must de-escalate tensions during student protests,” called on the French authorities to end disproportionate police action against protesters and ensure the safety of children and young people, as well as their right to peaceful assembly. Anne Savinel-Barras, president of Amnesty International France, referred to published footage and testimonies concerning the dangerous use of tear gas, batons, and physical restraint techniques, and expressed concern about serious injuries caused by rubber bullets. The organization emphasized that any use of force must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate, and that young people peacefully demanding their right to education must be protected against beatings and arbitrary detention. Amnesty International also identified de-escalation as the overriding priority and called for all available precautionary measures to be taken to avoid the need to resort to force[23].
Subsequently, Amnesty International issued another statement, dated October 7, 2026, titled “France: Permanently ban the use of all stun grenades in policing of protests,” responding to the decision by the French Minister of the Interior to temporarily suspend the use of these devices during student protests. Anne Savinel-Barras, president of Amnesty International France, welcomed the decision as an initial positive step but stressed that the prohibition should be permanent and apply to all protest gatherings. Referring to the severe injuries suffered by a 15-year-old boy in Lens, the organization warned that the blast effects and fragments produced by these grenades could cause permanent hearing loss and mutilation. Amnesty International also called for a comprehensive review of regulations governing the use of force against protesters to ensure that crowd-control practices comply with France’s human rights obligations, particularly the right to peaceful assembly[24].
The American newspaper Deseret News, in an October 6, 2026 report titled “How student protests grew into a nationwide crisis in France,” also examined the political consequences of the protests’ expansion. The newspaper described recent developments as a test of the government’s ability to respond to protesters while maintaining public order and highlighted competition among political groups seeking to capitalize on the situation. According to the report, La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) has aligned itself with the protesters by supporting students and criticizing police actions. By contrast, the National Rally (Rassemblement National) has emphasized public insecurity and the need for tougher action against violence. The report also highlighted disagreements among students over protest methods, including opposition by some to the destruction of school property. From the newspaper’s perspective, the launch of a national consultation with students had yet to produce an agreement to end the protests, while the effectiveness of government measures in reducing tensions remained uncertain[25].
Conclusion
The student protests in France, beyond exposing shortcomings in the public education system, have highlighted the need to assess the government’s conduct in light of its international obligations concerning children’s rights. Reports of deteriorating and unsafe school buildings, teacher shortages, and disparities in educational facilities raise questions about the effective implementation of the obligations set out in Articles 28 and 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly regarding equal access to education and the provision of appropriate learning conditions. Budgetary constraints do not relieve the government of its obligation to adopt effective measures, allocate resources equitably, and address children’s educational needs, especially in more disadvantaged schools.
Furthermore, reports of severe injuries sustained by teenagers, the deployment of dangerous crowd-control equipment, and the large number of minors detained raise questions about whether the actions of law enforcement officers comply with international human rights law. The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as protected under Articles 13 and 15 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, must be respected and safeguarded. Any restrictions on these rights must have a legal basis, pursue a legitimate aim, and be necessary and proportionate in a democratic society. Similarly, the use of force must comply with the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality, while interactions with children must incorporate special safeguards reflecting their age and vulnerability. Under Article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the deprivation of liberty of children must not be arbitrary and may be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period.
Accordingly, the French government’s response requires action in two complementary areas: adopting concrete and measurable measures to address educational shortcomings and ensuring accountability for potential human rights violations. In the latter area, credible allegations of unlawful use of force and arbitrary detention must be subject to independent, impartial, and effective investigations. Where violations are established, accountability for those responsible and victims’ right to effective reparation must be guaranteed. Ultimately, the measure of the government’s performance should not be merely its ability to contain the protests, but rather the extent of its practical commitment to fulfilling its obligations to guarantee the right to education, protect children’s rights, and enable them to exercise their fundamental freedoms.
References
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