'Fighting for our future': France high school students vow no let-up

High school students across France are gearing up for another day of protests on Thursday, amid government attempts to defuse the crisis that has gripped the nation for days. Since late September, students aged 15 to 17 have blocked entrances to hundreds of high schools, voicing grievances over a lack of teachers, crowded timetables, deteriorating classrooms, and buildings struggling to cope with increasing temperatures.

Student union leaders are rallying for fresh mobilization on Thursday, both outside high school campuses nationwide and in Paris. Police from the French CRS have been positioned to counter demonstrators outside the Lycee Helene-Boucher high school in Paris, during the nationwide protests on October 8, 2026, demanding improved school conditions.

National education unions have also called for a general strike on Thursday to back the students. In a televised address on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu sought to ease tensions, pledging to address the crisis by the end of October. Lecornu affirmed that France "cannot be indifferent" to students' concerns, acknowledging the "anger of young people" is justified. However, he denied security forces were directed to confront them, dismissing allegations of excessive police violence.

Students remain defiant, insisting, "We want real action, and until we get it, we'll keep mobilizing," as reported by AFP. Suzanne Nijdam, president of the student association Fage, stated they have received "no crumbs of an agreement" following a meeting with Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste, requesting a direct meeting with Lecornu to present costed proposals to address their demands.

Since the protests commenced, hundreds of students, police, and teaching staff have been injured, and over 6,500 people — mostly minors — have been arrested. While many rallies have been peaceful, some demonstrators have set fires, damaged bus shelters, or clashed with riot police. A 15-year-old lost a hand on Monday after police deployed a stun grenade, prompting Interior Minister Laurent Nunez to suspend police use of stun grenades on Wednesday.

Police have initiated 18 internal investigations into allegations of misconduct. The unrest has coincided with the run-up to the 2027 presidential election, in which far-right candidate Marine Le Pen leads in the polls, despite a corruption conviction.