France plans up to 500 school closures amid student unrest

France plans to close or partly close as many as 500 high schools nationwide on Oct. 5, 2026, Education Minister Edouard Geffray said, as authorities respond to student protests and prepare for another large mobilisation.²⁴⁵⁸

Infographic

Enlarge

Closures driven by security concerns

Lessons will be suspended fully or partly in an estimated 400 to 500 high schools because the required security conditions have not been met. The number affected is expected to be similar to Oct. 2, when at least 400 of France’s 3,700 high schools were closed and 560 experienced protests or disruption, according to Al Jazeera.²⁴⁶⁸

The closures are chiefly a precaution before large-scale demonstrations called for Oct. 6. Organisers have said the mobilisation should continue because the government has not adopted concrete measures in response to their demands.²⁴⁷⁸

In the Rhône area, conditions differed between schools, with some reopening partly and others remaining closed. Le Progrès reported that at least 25 establishments were affected by demonstrations or closures and that nine named establishments or school groups in Lyon were due to close. The prefect issued orders prohibiting marches, processions and protest gatherings within 100 metres of certain high schools.⁹

Damage, injuries and arrests

Twenty-four schools have been burned or ransacked since the movement began, while 78 education employees have been wounded. The unrest has resulted in over 5,000 arrests, with minors accounting for 85 percent of those detained.²⁴⁵⁶

Police took a 16-year-old into custody on Oct. 4 over the alleged assault of a 59-year-old teacher in La Ciotat. The teacher was struck and doused with gasoline during a protest on Oct. 2.¹²⁴⁵

Geffray said education employees had been deliberately targeted because they worked for the national education system. He also alleged that far-left activists had taken over parts of the student movement and committed serious violence. Critics, meanwhile, have accused police of responding too forcefully to the demonstrations.¹²⁴⁵

Students’ grievances

According to The Straits Times, students say teacher absences, long school days and deteriorating facilities are harming their education. The Guardian reported complaints about overcrowding, including classes of as many as 40 pupils, and school buildings in poor condition.¹⁴

The government has said the underlying grievances are legitimate while condemning what it termed “urban violence”. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a schedule to tackle lengthy staff absences and vacant positions, and convened regional presidents on Oct. 6 to discuss school infrastructure.¹⁵