Paris (France) (AFP) - Students in France closed the entrances to dozens of schools on Tuesday, according to what the Ministry of Education announced, in light of the continuing protests demanding improved study conditions.
Published on: 10/11/2026 - 13:47
The student protests that have been taking place in France since September have turned into broader demonstrations against the costs of living in recent weeks, sometimes punctuated by acts of violence and accusations of police brutality against the demonstrators.
This comes before the presidential elections scheduled for next year.
At a time when Europe's second-largest economy is facing pressure to reduce debt, the government does not have much room to maneuver to satisfy protesters by increasing spending.
The Ministry of Education stated that 49 of the country's 3,700 secondary schools, designated for students aged 15 to 18, had their entrances closed on Tuesday morning. The authorities expect thousands of school and university students to participate in a demonstration that will be held in Paris on Tuesday afternoon.
The student and professor unions said in a joint statement issued on Monday that “the time has come to increase mobilization by continuing pressure on the government.”
The head of the French Student Union, Riad Rani, stressed the need to maintain pressure.
"We are not just fighting for ourselves. We are fighting for teachers and their working conditions," he said.
The government announced measures including phasing out the digital platform dedicated to guidance in higher education and providing financial resources to support schools most in need. But students insist that this is not enough.
Unions also considered government measures unsatisfactory. On Monday, one of its leaders described the government's pledge to raise the minimum wage by 0.6 percent, in addition to the usual inflation-related adjustment, as mere "crumbs."
It called for a new day of strikes and protests on November 17.
About 575,000 people demonstrated across France as part of strikes and protests related to the cost of living last Thursday, according to the authorities. Unions estimated the number of participants at 1.5 million.
© 2026 AFP
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