French school protests resume on small scale as students return from break
High school protests in France have resumed on a smaller scale following a holiday break, with students blockading a small percentage of schools. The protests, which began over education issues, have expanded to include concerns about the cost of living.
Why it matters
The ongoing student unrest represents a significant challenge for the French government's education policy and broader economic agenda.
Education ministry says 41 schools blockaded as students return after holiday break.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info A 'fund schools, not genocides' placard during a demonstration in Paris against rising living costs and cuts to public services across France [File: Firas Abdullah/ EPA] By Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters Published On 2 Nov 2026 2 Nov 2026 High school students in France have resumed protests on a much smaller scale than in previous weeks as pupils returned from their two-week holiday break.
The Ministry of Education said 41 high schools were blockaded on Monday, about one percent of the country’s 3,700, according to the French public broadcaster Franceinfo.
Students attempted to blockade schools in Paris, Marseille and Rennes, the Reuters news agency reported. Hundreds of schools were blockaded in the weeks before the break.
Headlinne story · 5 newsrooms
French High School Students Resume Blockades as Government Warns of Exam Risks
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Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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