Tens of thousands of young people and adults have joined protests across France concerning the state of high school education, with further strikes planned for today, 8 October 2026. The movement, which began on 17 September, highlights issues such as crumbling school buildings, overcrowded classrooms, and teacher shortages.
The protests originated at Lycée Saint-Exupéry in Créteil, southwest of Paris, when pupils returned after the summer holidays to find they could not continue their studies due to extensive staff absences. Although these staffing gaps were later filled after negotiations with the education ministry, the complaints about the state of school infrastructure and wider educational inequality resonated across the country.
The movement has since spread to hundreds of schools across France, with high schoolers organising themselves without a centralised system or spokesperson. Sociologist Fabien Truong has praised the "maturity and coherence" of the protesters, noting a "social media effect" where students from wealthier areas are sharing videos of poor conditions in less privileged schools, fostering solidarity.
The grievances of the pupils are supported by evidence, and the Prime Minister has described them as "legitimate". Thousands of French schools at all levels require repair, class sizes are larger, and school days are longer compared to other similar countries. Additionally, approximately 10% of teaching hours are not delivered annually due to absent teachers.