Paris, October 5, 2026 – The Europe Today: France is set to fully or partially close up to 500 secondary schools on Monday amid escalating student protests over deteriorating educational conditions and growing clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
French Education Minister Édouard Geffray said classes would be suspended at around 400 to 500 high schools where security conditions had not been adequately met. He described the closures as a precautionary measure as authorities prepare for further demonstrations expected this week.
The protests, which began at a school in the Paris region on September 17, have spread to cities across France. Students have raised concerns over teacher shortages and absenteeism, overcrowded classrooms, excessively long school days and deteriorating school infrastructure.
According to the education minister, 24 schools have been burned or ransacked since the beginning of the unrest, while 78 education staff members have been injured. More than 5,000 people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the protests, most of them minors.
Authorities have warned that the demonstrations have increasingly involved violence, including clashes with riot police, vandalism and attacks around school premises. Protest organisers, meanwhile, have called for renewed demonstrations on Tuesday, arguing that the government has yet to introduce concrete measures addressing students’ concerns.
The French government has indicated that it intends to pursue a gradual resumption of classes while addressing staffing shortages, school infrastructure and other issues raised by students.
The unrest represents a significant challenge for President Emmanuel Macron’s government as it seeks to contain nationwide disruption while responding to mounting demands for improvements in the education system.
