France faced nationwide strikes and student protests over budget cuts, teacher shortages, and overcrowded classrooms ahead of the 2027 budget proposal. The demonstrations led to hundreds of detentions, dozens of injuries among protesters and law enforcement, and school disruptions across Paris and other major cities.
France experienced widespread disruption as students blocked schools and civil servants walked off the job to protest government austerity plans, teacher shortages, and deteriorating classroom conditions. Protesters voiced anger over overcrowded rooms where 70% of classes in municipal upper secondary schools consist of 30 or more students, alongside concerns about staff shortages that left 10% of class time in upper secondary schools without a teacher in 2025. According to the Union Syndicale Lycéenne (USL)—France’s largest union for upper secondary students—protests have taken place at approximately 1,800 of France’s 3,600 upper secondary schools.
Students Block Schools Across France
The movement expanded from high schools into higher education as university students joined the demonstrations. At the time of writing, according to USL, protests have taken place at approximately 1,800 of France’s 3,600 upper secondary schools. On the eve of the national demonstration scheduled for October 6, 2026, the Ministry of Education indicated that more than 400 school establishments were closed on Monday, October 5, while Minister Édouard Geffray noted between 400 and 500 high schools were affected by a total or partial suspension of classes. In Île-de-France, more than 160 high schools were closed on Monday, October 5.
Protesters in Paris blocked the entrance to the Lycée Arago with bins and displayed a placard reading Macron explosion
. At the Hélène-Boucher school, protesters put up a banner reading Fewer cops, More money
.
Protesters and Police Clash During Demonstrations
As demonstrations spilled into the streets, clashes broke out between protesters and law enforcement. In Paris, students blocked the entrance to the Lycée Arago with bins.
Reports of injuries and arrests mounted as the confrontations continued. Data provided by the French Ministry of Justice indicates that upwards of 700 law enforcement personnel have sustained injuries alongside the arrest of 6,000 protesters since the demonstrations began. Officials also stated that at least 10 teachers, several students, and 48 law enforcement officers were injured during the unrest.
Estimates regarding turnout varied between organizers and authorities. On October 6, organisers claimed 450,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country, with 100,000 participating in the Paris area.
Civil Servants Strike Against Austerity
The student mobilization coincided with a wider strike by public-sector workers, including teachers, healthcare workers, and firefighters. The education ministry said slightly more than 11% of teachers and other school staff were on strike, while participation among other civil servants was below 10%.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government formulated the austerity measures ahead of the presentation of its 2027 budget, which includes a planned €54 billion savings programme. Government authorities pointed out that the demonstrations have put pressure on the administration as it attempts to lower national debt and the deficit prior to next year’s presidential contest. The government has also warned that public debt could reach 121.7% of GDP in 2027. Based on figures from the national statistics institute Insee, French public debt reached €3.595 trillion at the close of June, which represents approximately 119% of GDP, while the nation anticipates spending near €79 billion on debt servicing this year, with that figure climbing to €91 billion by 2027.
While the government’s proposed 2027 budget aims to reduce spending by billions of euros, it plans to increase education spending by about €1.2 billion. Observers noted an apparent contradiction wherein overall spending figures increase while schools continue to experience neglect, staffing levels remain insufficient, and students harbor skepticism that political commitments will better everyday conditions.
This summer, who was on the front line? It wasn’t the billionaires, the big bosses or the shareholders. It was civil servants and working people. And how are they being thanked? By cutting their pay?
Sophie Binet, CGT leader
Ministers Blame Left-Wing Party
Education Minister Édouard Geffray said students had the right to protest but called violence “indefensible”. The administration has laid blame on the left-wing La France Insoumise party for capitalizing on the protests, an allegation that the party has rejected.
The crisis also attracted external commentary. Donald Trump described the unrest as out of control mass migration
and declared, This isn’t about schools, this is about Islam wanting to take over a once great Country!
