French high school blockades to resume Monday despite Macron appeal

High school blockades across France will restart on Monday, according to the head of a French student union speaking on Sunday. France 24 reported that French President Emmanuel Macron has urged for classes to resume following new government measures aimed at resolving the ongoing education crisis. Student groups stated that the proposed government measures do not go far enough. [1]

The announcement follows widespread weekend demonstrations. France 24 reported that around 320,000 demonstrators, including university and high school students, took to the streets across France on Saturday for a third consecutive weekend of largely peaceful protests. [1]

The planned blockades build on weeks of escalating education sector unrest. As FTMQ News reported earlier, high school students have been protesting against missing teachers and dilapidated classrooms since late September. Trade unions and teachers subsequently joined the student walkouts and blockades, which led to the closure of up to 500 high schools. Previous demonstrations saw clashes with authorities, resulting in 1,949 arrests recorded by the French Interior Ministry on 1 October 2026. [5][6]