French school protests widen into demonstrations over living costs

Students and workers have joined demonstrations across France over education and living costs, according to reports published on October 19, 2026, as President Emmanuel Macron’s government offered school measures and faced violence during some marches. SBS reported protests in 110 cities, following school blockades that began in September.¹²

From classrooms to household budgets

The movement’s initial concerns centred on school conditions. According to KFDM, students protested inadequate funding, deteriorating facilities, teacher shortages and a university admissions process they considered unclear. SBS traced the blockades to students at Lycée Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry, where complaints included staffing gaps, insufficient substitute teachers and buildings in disrepair.¹²

SBS reported that students wanted smaller classes, changes to timetables and reform of Parcoursup, the university admissions system. School and university unions subsequently joined them, coordinating walkouts with planned public-sector strikes. Workers’ groups and national organisations also entered the demonstrations, broadening their membership beyond the students who began them.²

Living costs became another focus. KFDM reported that other groups joined to oppose household expenses, including expensive fuel. SBS said Yellow Vest networks joined students for a national day of action. According to KFDM, the CGT’s demands included lower prices and increases in wages and pensions.¹²

The demonstrations also come alongside proposed budget restraint. SBS reported that the government planned austerity measures aimed at reducing the deficit from 5.4 per cent to 5 per cent of gross domestic product. KFDM said France had announced petrol subsidies for selected industries in mid-September.¹²

Crowd estimates and violence

The scale of participation remains a matter of differing estimates. KFDM reported an interior ministry count of 550,000 for Saturday’s demonstrations, against 800,000 from the CGT. SBS also cited an organisers’ estimate of about 800,000. Those figures describe the same broad mobilisation but do not provide an agreed attendance total.¹²

An analyst referenced by KFDM and Professor Romain Fathi, whom SBS quoted, said the demonstrations were largely nonviolent. Both outlets nevertheless reported violence, including the burning of Limoges town hall. KFDM reported approximately 1,500 damaged businesses and losses amounting to hundreds of millions of euros.¹²

The reports give different arrest and injury figures, without establishing a common accounting period. KFDM cited about 1,800 arrests and approximately 500 injured police, firefighters and paramedics; its broader account also referred to roughly 5,000 arrests. SBS reported about 2,400 arrests and nearly 1,000 injured law-enforcement officers during Saturday’s demonstrations. These totals cannot be treated as interchangeable.¹²

Concessions and competing accusations

The government has promised 3,000 additional substitute teachers, according to both reports. KFDM said it also planned to give students a role in school decisions and abandon an intended increase in some university registration fees. SBS reported that promises covering substitute teachers and timetable adjustments were rejected as insufficient.¹²

Responsibility for the violence has become a political dispute. According to KFDM, the government and Marine Le Pen blamed ultra-left groups, while Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused authorities of increasing tensions. SBS reported that Macron distinguished protesters with “legitimate demands” from those responsible for destruction and looting, promising immediate responses and prompt justice.¹²