A missing teacher. A classroom falling apart. A school day that lasts until 6 p.m.
Students in France have been protesting the conditions of their schools for weeks, and their frustration has now spread far beyond the classroom. Hundreds of thousands marched Saturday over education and rising living costs, with at least 2,400 people being arrested after violence broke out across the country.
The protests began in September in Créteil, just outside Paris, where students were upset about a lack of staff. Since then, students have described buildings that are falling apart, teachers who are not replaced when absent and classrooms too hot in the summer and too cold in winter. There are concerns about university admissions as well, with students saying the system is confusing and unfair.
Now, those students are being joined by workers and families struggling with the cost of everyday life. The CGT labor union has supported the protests, calling for higher wages and pensions, lower prices and better public services. The movement has brought together people with different concerns, but a shared frustration with the French government.
“There’s a general sense of frustration and anger,” Sonia Mabrouk, who attended a march with her daughter, told The Associated Press.
The government has promised 3,000 more substitute teachers and canceled plans to increase some university registration fees.
But the weekend has also been marked by violence. Shops were looted, buildings were damaged and a fire nearly destroyed the historic town hall in Limoges. Hundreds gathered again in Paris on Sunday, Oct. 18, where police used tear gas during new clashes.
President Emmanuel Macron has said peaceful protesters have real concerns, while condemning those responsible for the destruction. His government has blamed radical groups and criminals, and Macron said local officials could ban protests to protect public buildings and businesses.
With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the protests have added pressure on Macron to respond. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, one of his political opponents, has called for answers to students’ demands. For the students who began protesting, the original concerns remain the same: their teachers, their classrooms and the education they are receiving.