Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Student Protests Over School Conditions Spread Across France and Belgium
Students in France have been protesting because they say schools are too crowded and some buildings are in poor condition.
They also say there are not enough teachers.
The protests have lasted three weeks and spread to other parts of France.
Some students in Liège, Belgium, have also protested about school costs and crowded classrooms.
Police and protesters have clashed, and many people have been arrested or injured.
Rights groups and unions say French police used excessive force, while authorities also report injuries to officers and damage and attacks.
France’s prime minister says the government will review the students’ requests and share proposals later in October.
France and Iran have also argued over online claims about how French protesters were treated.
French student protests over crowded classrooms, deteriorating buildings and teacher shortages have entered their third week and spread nationwide.
More than 6,000 arrests and dozens of student injuries have been reported in France; rights groups and unions criticize police tactics, while authorities report injuries to officers and attacks on schools and people.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government would review students’ demands and present proposals at the end of October.
Hundreds of students demonstrated in Liège, Belgium, over education costs, crowded classrooms and access to study materials; local media reported 107 arrests.
France summoned Iran’s ambassador, alleging Iranian official accounts spread false content about the French protests; Iran had earlier accused France of mistreating demonstrators.
- Who
- Students in France and Belgium; French and Belgian police and officials; the governments of France and Iran.
- What
- Student protests over education conditions and costs have spread across France and into Belgium, with arrests, clashes and a diplomatic dispute between France and Iran.
- When
- The French protests are in their third week; the article describes events through October 7, 2026.
- Where
- France, including Paris and Saint-Denis, and Liège, Belgium.
- Why
- Students cite overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating school buildings, teacher shortages, education costs and difficulty accessing study materials.
Criticism and allegations
Authorities’ responses
Police conduct in France
Criticism and allegations
Rights groups and unions accuse police of using heavy-handed tactics against minors, including batons, tear gas and flashball guns. Saint-Denis Mayor Bally Bagayoko said police prepared to charge students, including some he said had not acted aggressively.
Authorities’ responses
Authorities say police officers have also been injured and report that schools have been burned or ransacked and that teachers and members of the public have been attacked.
Political influence on the protests
Criticism and allegations
Bagayoko rejected the government’s suggestion that France Unbowed politicians were behind the protests, calling the accusation insulting to young demonstrators.
Authorities’ responses
The French government has suggested that France Unbowed politicians were behind the protests.
France-Iran accusations
Criticism and allegations
Iran accused France of violent treatment of demonstrators and extensive human rights violations.
Authorities’ responses
France called Iran’s online content about the protests false and unacceptable, and described Tehran’s earlier summons of the French ambassador as baseless.
- French protest duration
- The protests have entered their third week.
- Arrests in France
- More than 6,000 arrests have been reported since the protests began.
- Student injuries in France
- Dozens of student injuries have been reported.
- French government response
- Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said proposals would be presented at the end of October.
- Reported arrests in Liège
- Local media reported 107 arrests in recent days; authorities could not immediately confirm the figure.
- Belgian tuition increase
- A tuition increase for most students in Belgium’s French-speaking Community raised fees from €835 to €1,194.
- Diplomatic dispute
- France summoned Iran’s ambassador over alleged online disinformation; Iran had previously summoned France’s envoy over its own allegations.