Student Unrest Spreads to Universities as French PM Calls Emergency Meeting

France’s Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has convened a crisis meeting as a rapidly expanding wave of student protests over deteriorating school conditions, teacher shortages and overcrowded classrooms spreads across the country.

The demonstrations, which began in the Paris region last week, intensified on Thursday, October 1, with protests and blockades reported at more than 1,000 educational institutions. University students have also joined the movement, with access blocked at about 30 university campuses, according to student representatives.

The unrest has included clashes between protesters and police, fires, vandalism and disruptions to public transport. Reuters reported that students set fires at at least two high schools on Thursday, while teachers in Marseille were inadvertently splashed with petrol during an incident involving a rubbish bin. Police also clashed with protesters in Toulouse, while a car was reportedly set alight in Strasbourg.

French authorities said hundreds of people had been arrested amid the unrest. The Interior Ministry reported that 1,949 people were arrested on Thursday, while officials said more than 1,000 institutions had been affected and 222 blockades were recorded.

The protests have been driven by complaints about teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, inadequate resources, deteriorating school buildings and demanding school schedules. Students have also raised concerns about high temperatures in classrooms and wider pressures within the education system.

In response to the escalating unrest, Lecornu asked ministers to cancel planned official travel so that the government could concentrate on the situation. Education Minister Édouard Geffray also announced meetings with education unions, parents and student representatives as authorities seek to address the grievances while maintaining access to schools.

About 400 schools and other educational establishments were expected to remain closed on Friday, October 2, because of the continuing unrest. Authorities have also authorised remote teaching where blockades or damage make it unsafe to hold classes normally.

The government has also faced a political dispute over the origins of the movement. According to a person close to the prime minister, intelligence agencies told Thursday’s crisis meeting that politicians associated with the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI) had helped initiate the protests. LFI lawmaker Louis Boyard rejected the allegation, saying the party supports non-violent demonstrations and accusing the government of worsening tensions through its response.

The protests are unfolding at a politically sensitive moment, with France preparing for next year’s presidential election and the government facing pressure over its finances and proposed 2027 spending measures. The student demonstrations have therefore become both an education dispute and a wider national political issue.