Police fired tear gas to manage crowds in Paris and other cities on Tuesday as more than a quarter of a million people joined nationwide demonstrations in support of high school students seeking increased education funding.
According to Interior Ministry figures, around 266,000 people took part in the protests across the country, including about 56,000 in Paris. Large gatherings also formed in Marseille, Strasbourg, Lille and elsewhere. The movement began with school blockades in the Paris region in mid-September and has since expanded into a broader national campaign, adding pressure on the government of outgoing President Emmanuel Macron.
Nearly 500 people were detained on Tuesday. Small groups clashed with riot officers at the end of a largely peaceful march in the capital. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the police response had been proportionate in almost all cases and that some protests had turned into riots requiring intervention. He noted that 715 officers had been injured during the wider wave of unrest. In one recent incident, a 15-year-old boy lost a hand after being struck by a police stun grenade.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government and school leaders must listen to students’ concerns and find solutions. He condemned “ultra violence” threatening schools and pledged that any accidents involving police would be investigated, while rejecting claims of racism within the force.
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More than two weeks of class boycotts and school blockades have led to over 6,500 arrests, most involving minors. On Tuesday, classes were fully or partially suspended at 891 schools. Authorities had begun closing schools the previous week after reports of damage and injuries among staff, students and police. The Education Ministry has opened an online portal inviting students to anonymously share difficulties they face and proposed changes.
Protesters have highlighted shortages of resources in disadvantaged schools, including rundown classrooms lacking basic furniture, extreme heat without air conditioning, pest infestations, staff shortages and heavy workloads. French high school students face some of the highest compulsory classroom hours in Europe. Adult supporters, parents and teachers have joined the marches, arguing that the students’ demands deserve attention.
Student representatives have said demonstrations will continue until authorities address the issues. Similar student protests were also reported in neighbouring Belgium, where more than 30 people were arrested in Liege and smaller actions took place in Brussels and other cities.
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