Students and teachers march in France on biggest day of high school protests
Trade unions joined students as officials said 256,000 people marched nationwide and 891 schools were partly or fully closed.
- On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, students, teachers, and parents marched across France as protesters blockaded hundreds of schools, demanding the government address understaffed and dilapidated classrooms.
- Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ordered his ministers to tackle student demands, including replacing absent teachers and repairing aging school buildings, with proposals due by the end of October.
- "When the answer is violence, it means democracy is no longer working," said Hugo Vetzel, a high school leaver in Strasbourg, as clashes left at least 715 police and 215 teenagers injured.
- France's Justice Ministry reported 5,060 arrests since protests began, with 87% of those detained minors, as the government and National Rally accused France Unbowed lawmakers of stoking unrest.
- Investor anxiety regarding France's ballooning budget deficit pushed 10-year bond yields to a 24-year high of over 5% last week, intensifying pressure on a government managing the crisis.
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399 Articles
Photos Show Scenes of Unrest as French Student Protest Goes Nationwide
More than 250,000 people took to streets across France on Tuesday as teachers, parents, and union activists joined students who have spent the past two weeks protesting, what they say is, a poorly-funded high school system.
Macron summoned key members of his government, including Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, to address the situation on Tuesday night, an executive source said.
Riot Police Clash With Protesters in Major French Unrest
Protests over funding and conditions in French schools continue to grow, as more fires are lit and riot police deploy tear gas. Plus: Pedro Sanchez’s leadership is on the line as Spain heads into a snap election, and Britain has threatened to expel diplomats in response to Israel’s decision to close a UK consulate. With Michael Walker, Harrison Stetler & Paolo Gerbaudo.
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