"Class Time Longer Than Sleep": French High School Protests Escalate, 440 Arrested for Attacks on Police

Protests Disrupt Classes at Nearly 400 High Schools Nationwide
Frustration Over Teacher Shortages, Overcrowded Classrooms, and Stifling Heat

Protests by high school students dissatisfied with poor educational conditions are spreading across France, escalating into intensified clashes that led to the arrest of 440 people in a single day. Most of those arrested have been identified as minors.

On September 30, Yonhap News, citing AFP and Le Monde, reported that students at hundreds of high schools nationwide staged demonstrations and blockades protesting teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and long hours of classes.

Protests by high school students dissatisfied with poor educational conditions have spread across France, escalating clashes that led to 440 arrests in one day. Photo by AP Yonhap News

During these protests, students blockaded schools and set trash bins on fire; at some sites, it was reported that students threw various objects and even acidic substances at the police. Police responded by deploying tear gas and batons, resulting in injuries on both sides. According to the French Ministry of Education, about 400 out of approximately 3,700 high schools nationwide were affected by protest disruptions or class cancellations. Of these, about 40 schools were completely blockaded, and blockades were attempted at 44 other schools. Le Monde reported, based on its own tally, that protest actions were confirmed at approximately 340 schools that day. The demonstrations spread beyond Paris and the greater Île-de-France region to major cities nationwide such as Lille, Nantes, Bordeaux, Rennes, and Marseille.

In the northern city of Lille, some students wearing masks set trash bins on fire in front of their schools and vandalized bus stops and advertising facilities. When bottles and paving stones were thrown at police officers, the police used tear gas in response. In Nantes and other cities, students blocked school entrances by piling up trash bins and various objects.

The scale of clashes is also growing. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated on local broadcaster BFMTV, "A total of 440 people have been arrested nationwide," adding that although a final tally is yet to be confirmed, around two-thirds of those detained are being held by the police. Most of those arrested have been reported to be minors. Forty-eight law enforcement and public safety officials were also injured. Minister Nuñez said that some protesters attacked the police and seven cases of hydrochloric acid being thrown at officers were confirmed on this day.

The students' demands are focused on staffing and facility issues in schools. They claim that classes are not operating properly due to teacher shortages or that it has become the norm for one class to far exceed 30 students. Long hours and inefficient timetables are also major complaints. At one Paris high school, students protested by holding signs reading "Class time is longer than sleep time" and criticizing the timetable that runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On this day in France, separate from student protests, public sector workers including teachers and firefighters staged strikes and rallies opposing the government's 2027 budget proposal. The unions are protesting against the freezing of civil servant wages and cuts in public spending. AP Yonhap News

The heatwave that continued through this summer further fueled discontent. Students argue that some school classrooms lack sufficient air conditioning, forcing them to study in overheated rooms even during the heatwave. Students from the Paris metropolitan area interviewed by Le Monde reported class cancellations due to outdated computers, suffering from leaking buildings, and high temperatures in classrooms. There were also complaints that teacher vacancies remain unfilled for extended periods. Some say the university admissions platform 'Parcoursup' adds to the pressure on students. Certain students reported significant stress caused by having to constantly check the grades that will affect their college entrance exams.

The Union Syndicale Lycéenne, the French high school student union, highlighted the issue of overcrowded classrooms with 32 to 35 students per class and shortages of teachers and school staff, calling for nationwide school blockades. However, they urged participants to act peacefully. The fact that student actions are aligning with public sector strikes is also a growing concern for the French government.

On this day in France, aside from student protests, public sector workers such as teachers and firefighters held strikes and rallies opposing the government’s 2027 budget proposal. Unions are protesting against the freeze on public employee wages and reductions in public expenditure. Teacher groups have also expressed support for the students’ concerns. A representative from a major French teachers' union stated that the problems highlighted by students, such as large class sizes and teacher shortages, are the same difficulties teachers face on the ground. At some schools, teachers reportedly positioned themselves between students and police to protect the students.

The government maintains that the demands for better educational conditions must be distinguished from acts of violence. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu criticized the expansion of protests in violent ways as "irresponsible," stating that arson and violence near schools cannot be justified. Education Minister Édouard Geffray also stated that legal proceedings are underway regarding the violent incidents. On the other hand, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI), criticized the government for excessively cracking down on students. The government, in turn, accused the opposition of politically exploiting students’ grievances, further fueling political strife.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.