Mass protests by high school students in France have been ongoing for over a week. These demonstrations began in the Île-de-France region and have spread across the entire country.
According to information from the French Ministry of Education, the protests have affected several hundred secondary educational institutions out of a total of 3,700 operating in the country.
The reasons for student dissatisfaction include overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of teachers, the unsatisfactory condition of educational facilities, and an overly dense class schedule. The actions are taking place against the backdrop of discussions regarding the draft French state budget for 2027, the parameters of which concerning education funding have become the subject of heated debate.
Clashes with law enforcement agencies
In some major cities, demonstrations escalated into clashes between protesters and law enforcement forces. Participants in the rallies used bottles filled with incendiary mixtures and threw stones at police officers, in response to which the police used tear gas.
The country's Ministry of the Interior reported that on September 29 alone, over 400 people were detained across France, the majority of whom were minors.