More than 250,000 people joined student-led protests across France on October 6 over teacher shortages, deteriorating school buildings and inadequate funding, prompting the government to promise 3,000 replacement teachers while demonstrations continued.
The movement began in late September, when pupils in working-class suburbs around Paris began blocking school entrances to protest absent teachers, crowded classes, overloaded schedules and unsafe or poorly maintained facilities. Students were joined by teachers, parents, university groups and labor unions in the country’s largest day of action so far. The Interior Ministry estimated the turnout at roughly 250,000, while organizers claimed about 450,000 participants.
In Paris and other cities, some confrontations with police involved tear gas, water cannons, arrests and injuries, intensifying anger over the government’s handling of the protests. The unrest has also disrupted hundreds of secondary schools and universities. On October 8, Education Minister Édouard Geffray said 3,000 substitute teachers would be sent to schools facing the most severe staffing problems, with 114 secondary schools receiving priority.
The announcement failed to end the movement: school blockades resumed on October 9, and student organizations called for another nationwide day of action.