41 French schools blockaded as students resume nationwide protests

Education Minister Edouard Geffray calls protests marginal

Education Minister Edouard Geffray described the current blockades as "very marginal" during an interview on France Inter on Monday morning. He stated that the protest activity is limited to a "handful of units, a few individual schools".

While Geffray acknowledged that protesting is permitted, he emphasized that blocking access to schools is illegal.

Media coverage of the movement has varied, with Reuters reporting on the small, marginal scale of the current blockades. Conversely, Rolling Stone has emphasized a large turnout and broader civil unrest.

Students reject government reform proposals

Students continue to demand the renovation of aging schools, an increase in teachers, and more university places. They are also calling for the removal of a university admission system they view as socially unfair. A coalition of unions including USL, UNEF, Fage, and the Union étudiante has specifically demanded a 10-billion-euro investment in education and the cancellation of the Parcoursup system.

Last week, Education Minister Edouard Geffray proposed capping class sizes at 28, investing 4 billion euros in school renovations, adding 15,000 higher education places, and implementing a new admission system by 2028. Student representatives rejected these offers, stating that the proposals were insufficient and that protests would continue.

A 16-year-old student named Meriem stated that the government's answers were not enough. "We've resumed the movement because we were supposedly given answers, but... it's clearly not enough," she said.

Protests expand to include cost of living and unions

The current unrest began in the Paris suburbs in September and has since spread nationwide. On 31 October 2026, labor unions, the "Yellow Vests" movement, and students held a demonstration in Paris to highlight these economic pressures.

The movement has occasionally involved violence, with reports of riots and looting in several cities last month. These incidents, alongside clashes with police, present a challenge to President Emmanuel Macron’s minority government. Protests persisted across France on the third consecutive Saturday, with hundreds of thousands of people participating. Organizers claimed that attendance reached one million people at the movement's peak last weekend.

These international movements have focused on issues such as corruption, poor school conditions, and the cost of living.

Government proposes four-billion-euro investment plan

The proposal includes a €4 billion ($4.47 billion) investment in school renovations and the addition of 15,000 higher education places. The plan also seeks to introduce a new admission system by 2028.

Police presence increases following violent incidents

The Direction nationale de la sécurité publique announced that police presence will be reinforced starting Monday to protect educational institutions following previous incidents of violence. As of Sunday, 779 individuals had been arrested across France.

A preliminary inquiry into "attempted murder of public authorities" has been launched by the French public prosecutor. This follows an incident in Paris where a Molotov cocktail was thrown at approximately 15 gendarmes and police officers, resulting in injuries including second-degree burns. Television footage on 2 November showed police present at schools, though they were not wearing full anti-riot gear.

Student unions call for further blockades

Pierre Sourzat, president of Les Lycéens!, declared on Sunday that his organization supports the movement and called for high school blockades to commence on Monday.

The UNEF requested that universities organize on Monday, 2 November, and warned that Tuesday, 3 November, is expected to be a "dark day" for universities and high schools nationwide.

Economic pressures limit government spending capacity

The French government faces fiscal constraints that limit its ability to increase spending to satisfy protesters. These pressures arise from national debt and an economy that is currently near recession.

President Macron urges return to classes

President Emmanuel Macron has requested a calm return to classes, asserting that "young people have been heard". Minister Edouard Geffray has also advised students to return to their studies to prevent failing their exams.

The minister noted that several hundred thousand students have missed four or five weeks of school prior to the recent break.