French pupils resume nationwide protests as school talks break down

French secondary school pupils returned to the streets on Tuesday for a nationwide day of strikes and demonstrations, Euronews reported. The action marks a new escalation in a protest movement that has lasted for nearly two months. Trade unions and youth organisations called for the protests after earlier government concessions failed to resolve the ongoing dispute. [1]

Tensions inside French schools have escalated, according to Euronews, with firework mortars set off inside classrooms. Representatives from trade unions walked out of discussions with the office of the prime minister because of the presence of the far right. Two weeks earlier, the government under Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu attempted to calm the situation by promising an overhaul of Parcoursup, the national online platform in France. [1]

Demonstrations and protests against poor economic and school conditions have taken place across France since September 2026. The mobilization expanded in early October to involve students, teachers, parents, political organizations, yellow vests, and trade unions. Participation in the nationwide movement reached an estimated 550,000 to 800,000 people. [2]