Photos: French protests over school conditions swell
News Source
β’Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:58:01 +0000
π° What Happened
Tens of thousands of people have joined protests across France to back high school students. The Interior Ministry counted 161,500 marchers on Tuesday. That is more than double the 71,500 from last week.
Unions put the number even higher, at 480,000. Marches took place in Paris and cities like Lyon, Nantes and Marseille. Most were peaceful, but there was some violence in Paris, where police said 41,500 people marched.
π The Backstory
The student movement began last month. Students blocked school entrances to demand better classrooms. Many people felt police treated the students too roughly. That pushed more adults to join the protests.
Some 147 teachers have been injured, the Education Ministry said. Police are looking into 34 claims of violence against protesters. On Monday, President Macron asked for calm and said the issues need time and respect.
π― Why It Matters
France's schools are old and crowded in many areas. These protests could force the government to spend money on repairs.
Tens of thousands of people have joined protests across France to back high school students. The Interior Ministry counted 161,500 marchers on Tuesday. That is more than double the 71,500 from last week.
Unions put the number even higher, at 480,000. Marches took place in Paris and cities like Lyon, Nantes and Marseille. Most were peaceful, but there was some violence in Paris, where police said 41,500 people marched.
The student movement began last month. Students blocked school entrances to demand better classrooms. Many people felt police treated the students too roughly. That pushed more adults to join the protests.
Some 147 teachers have been injured, the Education Ministry said. Police are looking into 34 claims of violence against protesters. On Monday, President Macron asked for calm and said the issues need time and respect.
France's schools are old and crowded in many areas. These protests could force the government to spend money on repairs.