Classroom to the Streets
By Dylan Xie and Inaya Stojanovic Nov. 4, 2026
In France, hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, parents and university groups have taken to the streets since September, demanding better public education as deteriorating school facilities, teacher shortages and overcrowded classrooms have led to growing frustration with the government.
The demonstrations reflect the growing criticism of France’s education system as insufficient resources and staffing have become prominent. According to CNN, the country had about 250,000 more middle and high school students in 2026 than 20 years ago, despite having fewer teachers—a statistic linked to the rise in births in 2010. Due to efforts to reduce public debt and growing political divisions in France, improving the aging education system poses a major difficulty for the government.
Frustration over inadequate resources culminated in a demonstration at Créteil, a southeastern Paris suburb. On Sept. 17, teachers of Saint-Exupery High School went on strike over vacant positions for multiple subjects. Students joined and blockaded the school on Sept. 21, demanding that authorities fill vacancies.
“There is a repeating pattern where teachers are not being paid enough and the school infrastructure is failing. These factors make education hard for students, making their goal of improving the education system understandable,” Sophomore Anna Li said.
Videos of the demonstrations began circulating on social media, encouraging students at other schools to organize similar movements. The protests expanded nationwide—on Oct. 13, the Interior Ministry estimated that over 161,000 protesters were participating, organizing strikes, marches and school blockades in cities including Paris, Lyon, Nantes and Strasbourg. Climate activist Greta Thunberg also appeared at a Saint-Denis demonstration to support the protest.
Although many protests have remained peaceful, some have escalated into confrontations with law enforcement involving fireworks, thrown objects, fires and property damage. Over 5,000 people have been arrested altogether since the start of the movement, per the BBC, with around 85% of them minors. Police have deployed riot gear and tear gas to disperse crowds and reopen blocked entrances. This response has drawn criticism from the public with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu reporting to lawmakers that at least 215 teenagers, 85 school staff and about 700 police officers had been injured during the altercations, per Reuters. A particularly serious incident involved a 15-year old boy who suffered a severe hand injury after being hit by a police stun grenade, leading to the temporary suspension of the weapon. Another 14-year-old boy suffered a shattered jaw and broken teeth due to a police tear gas canister.
“For governments to listen, violence is always needed. Many times, peaceful protests do not work as governments utilize violence through measures such as tear gas and batons. These protests are comparable to the French Revolution where violence was necessary to exact change after their continuous demands were ignored,” Junior Sayuri Lokeshwar said.
However, these disruptions also affect students and residents not participating in the protests. Families of non-participants have to adjust their schedules around road and school closures. On Oct. 13, the Education Ministry reported that over 214 high schools had been closed, down from 800 the previous week. Vandalized and damaged school facilities have prevented students from receiving in-person instruction along with $30 million in repair costs.
Prompted to act, Lecornu and other government officials held emergency discussions about the demonstrations and public order, promising solutions by the end of October. Education Minister Eduoard Geffray pledged to deploy 3,000 extra supplies and substitute teachers to priority schools. On a longer-term scale of change, the government made a provisional plan for the 2027 education budget, estimated to be around 64 billion euros, an increase of 1.2 billion euros from the previous year, per Le Monde. However, staffing remains a prominent problem: the proposed budget eliminates 1,588 teaching positions, with the government arguing that student enrollment changes and teacher availability have been taken into account amid budget constraints.
Overall, the protests represent a significant challenge for students and officials, with demonstrators demanding immediate improvements that clash with the government’s goals. As these demonstrations continue, the question becomes whether the government can respond to the longstanding concerns over the education system without further disrupting students’ preparation for their futures.
About the Contributors
Dylan Xie
Sports Editor
Dylan Xie is a junior at Leland High School and the Sports Page Editor for The Charger Account. He enjoys playing soccer, working out, hanging out with friends and eating food.
Inaya Stojanovic
Staff Writer
Inaya Stojanovic is a junior at Leland High School and a writer for The Charger Account. When not being in a pool 24/7 and playing waterpolo, she is reading dystopian books, going to the gym, shopping with her best friends, and buying new clothes.
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