High school lockdowns are continuing and intensifying, with young people raising their voices. This Friday, October 2nd, 2026, approximately 400 schools closed their doors across France due to a major mobilization effort. The issues at stake: deteriorated facilities, overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of teachers, and financial resources being spent for the wrong reasons. After more than ten days of protests, the movement has expanded to universities.
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A movement kicks off in mid-September
It's September 18, 2026, at the Saint-Exupéry high school in Créteil that a student movement begins. The teenagers are speaking out against the lack of equal opportunities when it comes to guidance in higher education, classes with nearly 40 students due to staff shortages, and issues related to Parcoursup.
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As a national public service demonstration is organized on September 29th, many high schools are joining the movement, supported by the High School Union (USL). The movement only gains momentum on September 30th and October 1st — 900 actions have been recorded across France. Paris, Lille, Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Toulouse and many other cities see numerous of their schools being blocked. "Gen Z is angry", "Our classrooms are overflowing, so is our patience", "We don't want the world, just to be taken seriously", can be read on the signs held by high school students — some accompanied by their parents, worried about the future of young people. In response, the government has shifted part of the
courses remotely.
Vandalism and violent clashes
Alongside predominantly peaceful demonstrations, clashes with law enforcement and significant vandalism have occurred. According to the Interior Ministry, 119 students and education sector employees were injured on September 30th. In Paris, Leonard-da-Vinci High School (15th district) and Gaston-Bachelard High School (13th district) were set on fire. Speaking to BFM-TV, Edouard Geffray, Minister of National Education, stated: « Initially, we don't have violent high school students, or very few. We have outside individuals who are there to cause harm. » Questioned by La Dépêche, Robin, a high school student in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, explains: « For us it's important to behave properly so as not to discredit our demands. »
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What's next for this high school demonstration?
In response to violent reactions and property damage, the Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, stated that he would like to apply the principle of "you break it, you pay for it". A measure deemed absurd in particular by Edouard Geffray and alsoManuel Bompard, coordinator of La France Insoumise.
What about the future of this movement? For now, demonstrations are being organized "day by day". It's therefore difficult to know whether the movement will continue this weekend and if blockades will persist next week. The USL has already called for a new day of protest on October 6.