High school students protest education reforms in France as classes resume

High school students in France resumed protests on a smaller scale as pupils returned from a two‑week holiday, blockading dozens of schools and vowing to keep up the pressure until their demands are met.

The demonstrations are a continuation of unrest that began in late 2023 when the Macron government unveiled a sweeping education reform package. The plan introduced a new national curriculum, raised the passing threshold for the baccalauréat, and cut funding for several university programmes. Students said the changes would make higher education less accessible and increase their workload. Tensions rose further in March when the government announced it would raise the minimum school‑leaving age from 16 to 17 and extend the number of mandatory school hours. Teachers’ unions and parent groups joined the outcry, arguing the measures amounted to an “attack on students’ rights”. The protests have been part of a broader wave of dissent that also includes pension and climate demonstrations across the country.

This week, students staged sit‑ins at the entrances of Lycée Henri IV in Paris, Lycée Saint‑Louis in Marseille and several schools in Lyon, temporarily halting classes for a few hours. Teachers’ unions said they back the students’ cause but warned that repeated blockades could jeopardise exam preparation. Education Minister Pap Ndiaye reiterated the government’s commitment to the reforms, urging pupils to return to learning and promising a “dialogue” after the summer recess. Analysts note the government may be forced to soften the most controversial clauses if the protests persist into the new academic year, especially as the Ministry prepares to roll out a digital grading platform in January. Police have been deployed to keep routes open, but no arrests have been reported so far. The next major test will be the national teachers’ strike scheduled for late January, which could either amplify student pressure or lead to a settlement.