French students hold fifth nationwide protest over education funding and Parcoursup, with about 200 schools closed and unions backing their demands

French students staged a fifth round of nationwide protests on Tuesday, October 13, calling for more education funding and better study conditions. Le Parisien reported marches in Lyon and Nantes and school blockades in Paris, Rennes and Strasbourg; teachers’ unions FSU-SNUipp and SNES-FSU urged members to join, citing shared concerns about public education, working conditions and pay. Protesters also opposed Parcoursup, France’s university admissions platform.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray told France Inter that about 200 schools were closed—fewer than the previous week. He said a consultation platform for high school students had received 86,000 contributions, and that nearly 1,000 contract teachers were being recruited to improve staff replacement capacity.

In Paris, protesters gathered near Hélène-Boucher High School and partially blocked Turgot and Montaigne high schools. Paris-Panthéon-Assas University moved classes online after blockades affected its Assas and Vaugirard campuses. A police source confirmed a confrontation outside Assas; students said a classmate was injured.

President Emmanuel Macron called on demonstrators to remain calm and respect people and property. Le Parisien reported that more than 6,800 people, overwhelmingly minors, had been detained since the movement began. France’s national police watchdog, the IGPN, has opened 24 investigations into suspected police violence.

The protest movement began in mid-September and has spread nationwide. Students have also raised concerns about teachers who are not replaced, dilapidated school buildings and crowded timetables.