France Erupts in Nationwide School Protests

2026, October 6

France

Students, teachers and parents took to the streets across France in one of the country's largest school protests in recent years. Almost 2,000 schools were reportedly blockaded or closed, with demonstrators protesting understaffing, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school buildings. Clashes with police have occurred in several cities.

The demonstrations have rapidly become a major domestic political challenge for Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's government. The protests began around two weeks ago and have escalated, with hundreds of people reported injured and authorities facing growing pressure to address the education system's funding and staffing problems.