French High School Protests Resume on Smaller Scale After Two-Week Break

Paris, France. Protests by French high school students started up again on Monday after the two-week break, but on a far smaller scale than before, with pupils attempting to block a few schools in Paris, Marseille and Rennes, according to French media.

From mass blockades to a handful of schools

In the weeks before the holiday, hundreds of the country’s more than 3,000 high schools were blockaded. The movement started in the Paris suburbs in September and then spread nationwide. It also expanded beyond education to the cost of living, attracting trade unionists and activists, and at times became violent.

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Education Minister Edouard Geffray told France Inter radio on Monday morning that the phenomenon was now very marginal, involving only a handful of attempted blockades at individual schools. He added that demonstrating is permitted, but stopping people from entering schools is against the law.

Television footage showed police officers at the scene, although they were not wearing full riot gear.

Part of a wider European trend

The French demonstrations belong to a wave of so-called “Gen Z” protests across European countries, among them Germany, Italy, Belgium and Albania. These have been fuelled by concerns including the cost of living, the poor condition of schools and perceived corruption.

Last month, the protests in France turned into violent clashes with police and outright riots in several cities, with shops looted. The unrest tested the minority government of President Emmanuel Macron.

Demands and government offers

The students are calling for the renovation of ageing schools, more teachers and more university places. They also want an end to a university admissions system that they regard as socially unfair.

Last week, Geffray proposed capping class sizes at 28 pupils, committing €4 billion ($4.47 billion) to school renovation, creating 15,000 new higher education places and introducing a new admissions system by 2028. Representatives of high school students said these proposals were insufficient and that the protests would continue.