Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has ordered a nationwide suspension of high school classes for the remainder of the week. The decision follows a surge in protests across France as students and activists rally against the state of the education system, demanding reforms such as the replacement of absent teachers, extended lunch breaks, and adjustments to the school day.
Official figures from the state estimate approximately 250,000 participants joined the rallies, though organizers claim the figure is closer to half a million. According to the High School Students Union, nearly 2,000 campuses were either blockaded or closed throughout Tuesday. While the movement began two weeks ago in the impoverished suburbs of Paris, it has since expanded into a countrywide phenomenon. According to reporting from a march in the capital, Paris, Natacha Butler, A growing number of groups had joined the demonstrations.
Demonstrations in cities such as Strasbourg, Lyon, and Rennes have frequently descended into unrest, characterized by fires, projectiles, and the use of tear gas by riot police. Demonstrators have been spotted holding placards with messages like “they don’t really care about us” and “survive or study.” Hugo Vetzel, a recent graduate in Strasbourg, remarked that the violence reflects a perceived disconnect between the political elite and the public, suggesting that democracy is no longer functioning effectively.
The government’s response has included the deployment of riot police to manage what officials describe as urban violence. Prime Minister Lecornu emphasized that burning school buildings does not address infrastructure needs and noted the suspension is intended to allow for internal dialogue at local levels. He has tasked ministers with addressing student demands by the end of October, including potential funding for campus repairs. However, budget analysts remain skeptical about the government’s ability to finance these public services given the current national debt crisis. Teachers and pupils to pursue “internal democracy” to address concerns over school conditions, the prime minister added the moved was aimed at empowering headteachers. However, how quickly the government can respond, there are doubts. This is about Islam wanting to take over a once great Country!”, this isn’t about schools.
The scale of the crackdown has been significant, with the Interior Ministry reporting 6,100 arrests since the unrest began, the majority of whom are under 18. The Justice Ministry indicated that prosecution is pending for over 1,800 individuals, including 1,483 minors. According to the Prime Minister, at least 215 teenagers and 715 police officers have sustained injuries during the clashes.
One incident in the northern city of Lens resulted in a 15-year-old suffering the loss of his hand and part of his arm. While authorities stated that 200 to 250 protesters were throwing objects at police, the newspaper La Voix du Nord reported the injury occurred after the teenager retrieved a police grenade during the confrontation.
As the protests draw support from broader labor sectors—including energy, farming, and teaching unions—parents have expressed concern about their children’s safety amid the risk of both troublemakers infiltrating the rallies and excessive police force. Amid the local developments, US President Donald Trump commented on the situation via his social media platform, Truth Social, alleging that the unrest was caused by “out of control mass migration” and targeting Muslim influence. This intervention mirrors earlier rhetoric used by the president during US midterm election campaigning, which critics argue promotes Islamophobic discourse for political gain. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has waded into the protests in France, blaming runaway immigration and Muslims, without providing any evidence. In August, the Republican president described Democratic candidates in the upcoming midterm US elections as “jihadists”, in an apparent reference to Muslim Democratic contender Abdul El-Sayed after he secured his party’s nomination for the Michigan primary elections last week.