French pupils resume protests with Greta’s support
On the fifth day of action, pupils are blocking schools in several cities and demanding more money for education.
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French pupils and students took to the streets again on Tuesday, on the fifth nationwide day of action by their protest movement. Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined protesters outside a school in Saint-Denis, while the government says the mobilisation is declining.
Schools and several universities in Paris and other French cities were blocked again on Tuesday. According to the French Ministry of Education, at least 200 secondary schools were expected to remain completely closed. The nationwide demonstration in Paris was due to set off from Place d’Italie; actions were also planned in Lyon, Marseille, Lille and other cities.
The pupils are protesting against teacher shortages, overcrowded classes, outdated school buildings and heavy timetables. Part of the movement also wants to abolish Parcoursup, the platform through which pupils seek further education after secondary school. The organisations behind the protests are calling for an emergency plan worth €10 billion for the lycées.
Thunberg visited Lycée Paul-Éluard in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. According to Euronews, she said that young people were insufficiently involved in decisions about their future and that schools were not being given the priority she believes they need. Her presence gives the French movement additional international attention, but does not change the pupils’ concrete demands.
The government is trying to respond to the unrest with measures it says can be implemented quickly. Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced the deployment of 3,000 substitute teachers to schools with the greatest shortages. According to reports, an increase of €1 billion in the education budget has also been announced.
The parents’ organisation FCPE has called on pupils to join the actions. The organisation says that pupils and parents must be heard and has supported demonstrations in several cities. At the same time, the authorities are warning of disruption to education and hope that the protests will lose momentum during the coming school holiday.
The protests have now lasted about three weeks and touch on a broader political debate about public investment, spending cuts and the state of the French government. The government stresses that the mobilisation is becoming smaller, while activists point out that many schools and universities are still being blocked.
The scale and course of the protests may still change on Tuesday. What is clear is that the movement has reached nationwide proportions and that both education policy and the handling of demonstrations are subjects of debate. For Dutch readers, the main relevance is that France is once again facing a prolonged education strike during a period of intense budgetary pressure.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- On 13 October, schools and educational institutions were blocked in several French cities.
- The activists are calling for more resources, more teachers and better buildings.
- The government announced additional substitute teachers and extra education funding.
- The FCPE supports the call for mobilisation.
- The government says the protests are declining; the activists are carrying on.
Left
Arguments The left-wing perspective sees the actions as a legitimate response by young people to years of underinvestment. Additional teachers, smaller classes and better buildings are public services that should not depend on pupils’ place of residence or financial position.
Values Equal opportunities, public investment, youth participation and protection of the right to demonstrate.
Consequences A larger education budget and restrained policing could improve quality and trust in government, but would require room in the budget.
Centre
Arguments The institutional approach acknowledges the problems in schools, but points out that structural improvements require time, staff and reliable funding. The first step is consultation on measures that can be implemented immediately, while blockades and violence are kept within bounds.
Values Continuity of education, administrative feasibility, dialogue and equality before the law.
Consequences A compromise could consist of targeted investment in vulnerable schools, better staff planning and a phased approach to larger reforms.
Right
Arguments The right-wing perspective stresses that pupils are entitled to education and that blockades disadvantage other pupils, parents and staff. Under this approach, additional money must demonstrably lead to better lessons and not disappear into bureaucracy.
Values Order, responsibility, efficiency and protection of families’ choice of education.
Consequences The emphasis may fall on keeping schools open, setting stricter limits on blockades and monitoring the results of new spending.
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 factual core has been confirmed by Euronews, AP, FCPE and The Guardian. Uncertain or changeable elements, such as the precise number of closed schools and the final turnout, have been presented as estimates or expectations.
- confirmed French pupils resumed nationwide protests on 13 October for a fifth day of action. — Euronews describes the fifth day of action on 13 October. source
- confirmed Greta Thunberg visited a blocked school in Saint-Denis. — This is reported by Euronews, AP and The Guardian. source
- confirmed The demands include teacher shortages, overcrowded classes and outdated buildings. — These demands are mentioned by Euronews and The Guardian. source
- confirmed The government announced 3,000 substitute teachers and €1 billion in additional education funding. — Euronews mentions both measures. source
- confirmed The FCPE called on parents to support the pupils’ actions. — This is stated on the parents’ organisation’s own website. source
- confirmed The government says the mobilisation is declining. — Euronews quotes the ministry’s position; this is presented as the government’s assessment. source
Editor's note
The protests, Greta Thunberg’s presence and the government measures announced have been confirmed by multiple sources. The number of closed schools is a current estimate by the ministry and may change during the day of action; the precise nationwide turnout had not yet been established at the time of publication.Sources
- Mobilisation des lycéens : Greta Thunberg présente à un blocage pour l'acte V du mouvement — Euronews
- The French high school protests and Greta Thunberg's visit — Associated Press
- Les revendications de la jeunesse doivent être entendues — FCPE
- Our future is being stolen: Greta Thunberg joins students protesting in Paris — The Guardian
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „frankrijk onderwijs”
- AD — „frankrijk onderwijs”
- de Volkskrant — „frankrijk onderwijs”