Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Students Torch At Least Two Schools As Protests Rage France
Students in several French cities have been protesting at their high schools.
They say their schools need more staff and better buildings.
Some protests became violent, and fires were started at several schools.
In Marseille, teachers were accidentally splashed with petrol during an attempted fire.
In Nantes, a school was evacuated after a fire, but no injuries were reported.
At another school, people forced firefighters away and burned their truck.
Some students say police used too much force, including tear gas.
The government says violence is unacceptable but agrees that school problems need attention.
Government leaders are meeting with teachers, parents and students to discuss what should happen next.
Student protesters started fires at schools in Marseille and Nantes, while another blaze was reported at Saint-Exupery high school.
Teachers at Marseille’s Victor Hugo high school were inadvertently splashed with petrol during an attempted trash-bin fire.
Protests and school blockades began the previous week over staff shortages and poorly maintained buildings.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office held a crisis meeting as dozens were injured and hundreds, mostly teenagers, arrested.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray plans meetings with staff unions, parents and students, while officials urged remote classes where schools were blocked.
- Who
- High school students, teachers, firefighters, police and French government officials, including Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Education Minister Edouard Geffray.
- What
- Student protests and blockades escalated into fires at multiple schools, an attack on a fire truck and clashes with police.
- When
- Thursday, October 1; the demonstrations and blockades had begun the previous week.
- Where
- Several French locations, including Marseille, Nantes and the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis.
- Why
- Students are protesting staff shortages and poorly maintained school buildings; the unrest has also become politically sensitive amid announced budget spending cuts.
Student and Protester Concerns
Government and Official Response
Reasons for the protests
Student and Protester Concerns
Students are protesting staff shortages and poorly maintained or dilapidated school buildings.
Government and Official Response
The government has said difficulties in high schools should be acknowledged and addressed, while emphasizing that violence is unacceptable.
Police tactics
Student and Protester Concerns
Students have accused police of using heavy-handed tactics, including tear gas, and one protest sign asked whether students could speak without being teargassed.
Government and Official Response
Officials have focused on preventing violence and said some troublemakers were moving between schools to incite unrest.
School access and education
Student and Protester Concerns
Blockades have disrupted access to schools as students continue demonstrations.
Government and Official Response
Education Minister Edouard Geffray said schools should hold classes remotely when protesters block their premises, arguing that violence should not deny students their right to education.
- Schools affected
- Fires were reported at schools in Marseille, Nantes and another school identified as Saint-Exupery high school.
- Marseille incident
- Teachers at Victor Hugo high school were inadvertently splashed with petrol during an attempted trash-bin fire.
- Nantes incident
- The fire at Nelson Mandela high school was brought under control, and no injuries were reported.
- Fire truck attack
- At Saint-Exupery high school, young people reportedly forced firefighters from their vehicle and set the truck alight.
- Arrests and injuries
- Officials said dozens of people were injured and hundreds were arrested, most of them teenagers.
- Government response
- Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office held a crisis meeting, while Education Minister Edouard Geffray scheduled meetings with staff unions, parents and students.
- School operations
- Geffray called for remote classes when protesters blocked school premises.