France to close 400 schools on Friday amid pupil protests
The government is trying to curb blockades and violence as pupils demand more teachers and better school buildings.
There is news on this story (Saturday, 3 October 2026, 13:27): French school protests lead to more than 5,000 detentions
France will keep around 400 schools closed on Friday because of the ongoing pupil protests. The demonstrations, which began with complaints about overcrowded classes and staff shortages, have expanded and are now prompting crisis talks within the government.
French Education Minister Édouard Geffray said on Thursday that 400 schools would remain closed on Friday. According to him, 170 pupils and 65 staff members have been injured since the protests began. Earlier government figures were lower because they were based on a different reporting date.
The protests began on 21 September in the region around Créteil and subsequently spread to hundreds of secondary schools. According to the latest government data, 356 schools were affected on Wednesday. Pupils are complaining, among other things, about overcrowded classes, a shortage of teachers, long school days and inadequate buildings.
The government says some complaints are legitimate, but opposes blockades, vandalism and violence. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened crisis talks and asked ministers to cancel planned trips. This means the government must free up more capacity for maintaining order and ensuring safety around schools.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez also reported hundreds of arrests. Figures for the number of arrests and injuries vary by day and source. The authorities attribute part of the escalation to groups that they say are moving from school to school; the protest movement does not accept that political interpretation as a neutral statement of fact.
The education minister has ordered schools to organise remote lessons when blockades or damage endanger safety. At the same time, the government’s position remains that schools must be able to open for pupils who do want to attend lessons. In some places, teachers have joined the blockades to form a buffer between pupils and police.
The protests coincide with the presentation of France’s 2027 budget, in which spending cuts are expected. As a result, the school problems have become part of a wider political conflict over public finances and public services. The movement is also affecting the election campaign ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Geffray wants to hold talks on Friday with staff organisations, parents’ associations, pupil organisations and representatives of students. The meeting should clarify which education problems the government wants to address and how schools can safely reopen. It is not yet known whether the talks will end the blockades.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Around 400 schools will close on Friday because of the protests.
- Pupils are protesting against, among other things, staff shortages, overcrowded classes and poor buildings.
- The government condemns violence and wants lessons to resume where this can be done safely.
Left
Arguments The protests expose structural problems that arise when public services are inadequately funded. The government must invest in teachers, buildings and support before treating blockades solely as a law-and-order issue.
Values Equal educational opportunities, public services and young people’s participation.
Consequences Without additional resources, the causes will remain and further protests may follow.
Centre
Arguments Both the education problems and the safety of pupils and staff must be taken seriously. Talks with schools, parents and pupils are necessary, but lessons must not be disrupted for a prolonged period.
Values Continuity, practicality and the protection of all pupils.
Consequences Targeted investment and temporary safety measures could restore calm, but they require clear priorities in the budget.
Right
Arguments Blockades and vandalism must not deprive people of their right to education. The government must restore public order and then implement improvements within the available resources.
Values Safety, responsibility and compliance with rules.
Consequences A tough approach could reopen schools quickly, but without credible education policy, discontent will continue to return.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The current figures and government measures were checked against Reuters and AP. The text attributes political accusations to the government and does not present them as established fact.
- confirmed Around 400 French schools will remain closed on Friday. — Reuters quotes Education Minister Geffray on this figure. source
- confirmed The government reported 170 injured pupils and 65 injured staff members. — Reuters reports these figures from Geffray. source
- confirmed The protests began on 21 September in the Créteil region. — Reuters gives this start date and location. source
- confirmed Prime Minister Lecornu convened crisis talks and cancelled ministers’ planned trips. — AP describes both measures. source
- confirmed The protests are also having political consequences for the election campaign. — AP describes the link with the forthcoming presidential election. source
Editor's note
AP and Reuters confirm the expansion, the school closures and the government’s response. Figures for injuries and arrests vary by reporting date; that difference is noted in the article.Sources
- High school protests in France prompt crisis meeting and arrests — Associated Press
- La fronde lycéenne se durcit, le mouvement gagne les universités — Reuters via Zonebourse
- Conférence de presse conjointe sur la mobilisation aux abords des établissements scolaires — Frans ministerie van Onderwijs
The story so far
- Friday, 2 October 2026, 00:01 France to close 400 schools on Friday amid pupil protests (this article)
- Friday, 2 October 2026, 09:01 Damage from French school protests remains disputed
- Friday, 2 October 2026, 13:05 French school protests escalate: nearly 2,000 arrests
- Friday, 2 October 2026, 22:02 French government seeks way out after school protests
- Friday, 2 October 2026, 23:08 French minister meets students after school protest escalation
- Saturday, 3 October 2026, 13:27 French school protests lead to more than 5,000 detentions
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „frankrijk scholierenprotest”
- De Telegraaf — „frankrijk scholierenprotest”
- AD — „frankrijk scholierenprotest”