14.10.2026 00:43
As more than 160,000 people took to the streets today in student protests continuing their third week in France, students called for participation in a protest to be held with the Yellow Vests on October 17.
Student protests that began in high schools in response to teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, long school hours and the physical conditions of schools in France continue in their third week. In addition to the capital Paris, high school and university students took to the streets once again in cities such as Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Rennes, Strasbourg and Bordeaux. In demonstrations also supported by education unions and some teachers, clashes between police and protesters occurred in places.
NEARLY 500,000 PEOPLE ON THE STREETS
The French Ministry of the Interior announced that 161,500 people across the country took part in the demonstrations, while student and union organizations reported that participation reached 480,000. Education could not be provided in 214 high schools due to the protests. The government had announced that 266,000 people took part in last week's demonstrations.
In the main march in Paris from Place d'Italie toward Invalides, students demanded that more resources be allocated to the education system and that police interventions end. A second, smaller march was also held in the capital between the city hall and Port-Royal Square. Tensions occurred between some protester groups and security forces.
THUNBERG SUPPORTS THE PROTESTS
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was among those supporting the protests. Thunberg joined the student action in front of Paul-Eluard High School in Saint-Denis near Paris. Stating that she was proud of French students, Thunberg said, "Our future is being stolen from us and schools are not getting the investments they need."
Stating that young people are not included in decision-making processes that concern them, Thunberg said that not allocating sufficient resources to education shows that young people are not given priority in society. Emphasizing that they will continue the struggle, the activist used the phrase, "We will not give up." Thunberg also criticized the French police's interventions against young protesters.
During the action, about 20 lawyers gathered in front of the school in their robes to protect students against possible police interventions.
CALL FOR JOINT ACTION FROM YELLOW VESTS AND STUDENTS
In France, activists from the Yellow Vests movement and representatives of student and various social movements called for joint demonstrations on Saturday, October 17. In the call published with the slogan "Jaunes et jeunes, nos luttes se rencontrent" (Yellow Vests and young people, our struggles meet), the aim is to combine protests over problems in the education system with the struggle against the high cost of living.
While a demonstration is planned at Bastille Square in Paris at 2:00 p.m. and the march is planned to move toward Opera, a call was also made to gather at Republic Square in Rennes at the same time. Students, teachers, workers, farmers and retirees were also invited to the actions.
The October 17 demonstrations, also supported by some groups from the Yellow Vests movement, are seen as a new stage in the high school protests that have continued since September. Student organizations aim to unite different social segments in a common struggle by combining reactions to the education system with demands for action against the high cost of living and for social justice. With demonstrations planned in various cities across the country, especially Paris, the protests are intended to reach broader participation.
147 EDUCATION WORKERS INJURED
The French Ministry of Education announced that 147 education workers have been injured since the start of the protests. The Ministry reported that 214 high schools remained closed across the country on October 13. While it was stated that this number was 800 on the previous major day of action, the government argued that participation in the protests had begun to decrease.
The Ministry of Higher Education announced that educational activities were disrupted in approximately 35 percent of universities. The student organization Union étudiante, however, claimed that 90 percent of the country's approximately 70 universities were closed or their entrances were blocked.
MORE THAN 110 HIGH SCHOOLS DAMAGED
The Ile-de-France Regional Administration, covering Paris and its surroundings, announced that more than 110 high schools have been damaged since the start of the protests. Reporting that material damage has reached 8.5 million euros, the Administration announced that it will intervene in lawsuits to be filed against those who damage schools and that the legal responsibilities of the families of minor perpetrators will also be raised.
NEARLY 7,000 PEOPLE DETAINED
According to data published by the French Ministry of Justice on October 9, 6,877 people were detained in the protests up to October 8. While it was stated that 5,890 of those detained were minors, it was announced that legal proceedings were initiated against 2,376 people, and that a decision was made to try 21 people, 6 of them children, in detention.
36 INVESTIGATIONS INTO POLICE INTERVENTIONS
Police interventions also continued to be a subject of debate. After a student lost a hand and another student lost an eye in previous demonstrations, the intervention tools used by security forces came up again. It was reported that the National Police General Inspectorate (IGPN) has opened 36 investigations into police interventions against protesters since the start of the protests.
STUDENTS WERE NOT CONVINCED
Students demand that the teacher shortage be remedied, school buildings be renovated, curricula be lightened, and the university admission system Parcoursup be abolished. The High School Students' Union (USL) wants 10 billion euros in emergency resources to be allocated to solve the problems in the education system.
French Minister of Education Edouard Geffray announced that 3,000 substitute teachers would be sent to schools experiencing severe teacher shortages and that the education budget would be increased by 1 billion euros. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, meanwhile, stated that work would be done to include some proposals that emerged during the consultation process with students in the 2027 budget bill.
FCPE, one of the country's leading parent federations, also supported the students and argued that the problems in the education system have been raised for years but have not been taken sufficiently into account.
Student organizations, however, found the measures announced by the government insufficient and announced that they would continue the protests until their demands are met.