More than 400 people, mostly minors, were detained in France on Tuesday as students staged high‑school blockades across the country, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said.
The protests began in Paris and spread to dozens of schools, driven by complaints of overcrowded classrooms and a chronic shortage of teachers. In the words of a 16‑year‑old student, “There are 34 of us in each class, and it’s just not feasible. The teachers are overworked.”
The demonstrations escalated into clashes: projectiles were hurled at police, who responded with batons and tear gas. At least 10 teachers and several officers were injured, while the education ministry reported that around 400 schools were affected. Witness footage shows burning bins and damaged bus stops.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray took to X to say that students have the right to protest but condemned the violence as “indefensible” and cautioned against extending blockades that could endanger students and staff.
When asked about police tactics, Interior Minister Nuñez described the response as “carried out in an extremely proportionate manner”, though he acknowledged that the majority of detainees were taken into custody.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu warned on X that any escalation would be “irresponsible” following the arrest of 164 people the day before and called the incidents of fire, fireworks and violence “nothing that justifies endangering students, staff or police officers.”
The nationwide walkout by teachers, hospital workers and civil servants—over 200,000 participants according to the interior ministry—co‑fired with the student protests, amplifying demands for better pay, conditions and resources across the public sector.
As the government attempts to address urgent grievances while maintaining public order, the situation remains fluid. Stakeholders, including student unions, teacher associations and policy makers, are urged to seek dialogue to prevent further escalation and ensure that France’s education system can meet the needs of its young citizens.
