France is preparing for a new wave of student protests on Tuesday, calling for improved educational conditions, as several schools across the country remained closed on Monday due to protest actions.
Students are seeking to maintain the momentum of the movement that began in mid-September. While some believe Tuesday’s protests could mark a turning point, the government hopes the wave of demonstrations has begun to subside.
The new protests follow the participation of around 256,000 people in demonstrations last Tuesday, according to the Interior Ministry, as students seek to pressure the government into responding to their demands.
On Friday, the government pointed to a significant decline in the number of secondary schools that had suspended classes or witnessed protests outside their entrances, confirming that more than 96% of secondary schools were open that day. The number of closed institutions fell to 130, compared with 172 the previous Friday.
The Ministry of Education stated that “the movement is therefore clearly declining,” although it did not specify how many institutions had experienced disruptions due to blocked entrances. It added that “despite the decline in institutional closures, acts of violence are escalating,” noting that at least eight employees in the national education sector had been injured on Monday.
Schools in several major cities remain closed or are experiencing disruptions to their activities. In the Paris region, where classes were disrupted at around 80 secondary schools, a school principal, a student’s parent, and an employee were injured on Monday.
Authorities are seeking to contain the protests, particularly after calls circulated online for additional demonstrations next Saturday in protest against living conditions. These calls recall the “Yellow Vests” movement that swept across France in 2018, when mass demonstrations, accompanied by clashes with police, erupted in response to a plan to raise fuel prices during President Emmanuel Macron’s first term.
Meanwhile, authorities continue to assess the damage caused by the protests. A government source told journalists last week that the cost of the damage amounted to at least €30 million.
On Friday, the Ministry of Justice announced that more than 6,800 people had been arrested since the demonstrations began, 86% of them minors. Clashes with riot police have also left students with serious injuries, prompting widespread criticism of police practices and leading the government to temporarily suspend the use of stun grenades after one of them caused a student to lose a hand.
Police have launched 18 internal investigations into allegations against their officers.
Last week, the government attempted to respond to students’ demands by presenting concrete proposals. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu pledged on Sunday to allocate additional resources to schools in the 2027 budget, with the aim of addressing several demands submitted by students through an online platform established by the government.
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Author: Counselor Faisal Al-Mutairi.
Publication Date: October 13, 2026.
Updated: October 2026.
