Friday, October 2, 2026 - Around 400 high schools across France were closed on Friday as student protests over education conditions spread nationwide and became violent in some areas.
The demonstrations, which began in the Paris region, have focused on teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, poor school facilities and inadequate resources. French authorities said about 400 of the country’s 3,700 high schools were closed, while hundreds more reported disruptions.
The unrest has brought clashes between students and police, with tear gas, fires and damaged school buildings reported in several cities. Authorities said around 2,000 people had been arrested since the protests intensified, while dozens of students and school staff have been injured.
Fire damaged entrances at two Paris schools, while other incidents involving fires and clashes were reported in Nantes, Strasbourg, Toulouse and Marseille.
The government is under growing pressure to restore calm while addressing the concerns driving the demonstrations. Education Minister Édouard Geffray has urged parents to keep children away from violent protests, warning that students are at risk.
Student groups, meanwhile, continue to demand better learning conditions, leaving authorities facing an urgent challenge as school disruptions spread across the country.
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