Up to 500 French Schools Shut as Student Protests Continue

2026-10-04 · Politics · France

France's education minister said up to 500 high schools will be fully or partly closed on Monday as student protests over teacher shortages, dilapidated buildings and overcrowding enter a second week. Officials say 24 schools have been burned or ransacked and 78 staff injured.

Why it matters：The unrest is testing the government's ability to manage education funding and public order.

Key points

• The movement began on Sept 17 at a high school in the Paris suburb of Creteil
• At least 5,000 people, mainly teenagers, have been arrested
• Dozens of students and teachers have been injured

Sources (original reporting)

• The Guardian
• The Straits Times
• France 24

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