France’s School Crisis Deepens as Student Protests Spread

France’s education crisis is moving beyond school gates, with hundreds of secondary schools closed as student protests over staffing, funding and learning conditions spread across the country. Around 400 of France’s 3,700 secondary schools were closed on Friday after authorities ordered measures to prevent further unrest. The Interior Ministry said more than 1,000 secondary schools had been affected the previous day, alongside around 30 university campuses. The protests have also brought a sharp security response. Authorities reported 1,949 arrests on Thursday, while 305 police officers, gen

France’s education crisis is moving beyond school gates, with hundreds of secondary schools closed as student protests over staffing, funding and learning conditions spread across the country. Around 400 of France’s 3,700 secondary schools were closed on Friday after authorities ordered measures to prevent further unrest. The Interior Ministry said more than 1,000 secondary schools had been affected the previous day, alongside around 30 university campuses. The protests have also brought a sharp security response. Authorities reported 1,949 arrests on Thursday, while 305 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said 170 students and 65 education workers had also been injured since the movement began. For the government, the challenge is now both educational and public-order related. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has called for parents to be held financially responsible for damage caused by their children, while Education Minister Geffray urged families to keep students away from blockades. The government has also faced political accusations. Officials have blamed the left-wing France Unbowed party for contributing to the protests’ radicalisation. The party rejects the allegation, and the claim has not been independently established. Amid the pressure, the government has already withdrawn proposed registration fees for some vocational and preparatory courses in the 2027 budget. But student organisations say the concessions are not enough. Demonstrations are expected to continue, with a national day of action planned for Tuesday. For France, the question is increasingly how to address students’ concerns without allowing the protests to descend further into violence and disruption.