Students demonstrate in France, holding banners and gathering in the streets as police monitor the protest. The image illustrates growing tensions over school conditions, teacher shortages and allegations of excessive police force.
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published October 10, 2026
PARIS, October 10, 2026 — Student protests across France continued for a third week as thousands of high school and university students demanded better school conditions, more teachers and action against police violence. Demonstrations have spread across the country, with students reporting overcrowded classrooms, damaged facilities and long periods without replacement teachers.
Police conduct has become a major issue after several young protesters suffered serious injuries during clashes. Reuters reported that authorities were investigating 24 cases involving police conduct, including the case of a 14-year-old boy who suffered a broken jaw and dental injuries after being struck by a tear-gas canister. The government had also suspended the use of stun grenades during student protests following an incident in which a 15-year-old boy lost a hand.
The demonstrations have put pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government, which faces demands for greater education spending while trying to control public debt. The government has pledged to recruit 3,000 substitute teachers, but student groups and education unions say broader improvements are necessary. Protesters have called for another nationwide demonstration on October 13, raising the possibility of further disruption to schools and universities.
