France Puts €4bn Toward School Repairs as Student Union Vows to Continue Blockades

The French government announced a €4bn loan for regional authorities to repair school buildings on Monday, a move intended to stem a youth protest movement that has lasted more than five weeks. The funding package was revealed after high school student representatives met with the government to discuss the crisis.

Pierre Sourzat of the student union Les Lycéens told France Info television that the group remains at the negotiating table. He described the situation as a power struggle, stating that continued mobilization is necessary to meet their maximum demands. Sourzat emphasized that the students want concrete measures rather than half measures.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray acknowledged that some schools are in such poor condition that they are not fit for teaching. The dilapidated structures have featured collapsing ceilings, mold, broken toilets, and windows that fail to shut. The €4bn loan is designed to address these infrastructure failures.

The government also agreed to cap class sizes for 15-year-olds in the first year of high school at 28 students. This limit will initially apply to the 50% of schools located in the lowest-income areas. Geffray stated that the cap will expand to all high schools next year, alongside the creation of more teaching posts and a review of the baccalaureate system.

Changes to the university application platform, Parcoursup, are also part of the package. The current system has been described as opaque and unfair. The government plans to modify the platform in 2027 and replace it with a new system in 2028. Parliament is scheduled to debate the issue on Wednesday.

Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste announced that 15,000 extra student places will be created in higher education, with a focus on vocational courses. He noted that the government’s door remains open for further discussions with student leaders.

Louis Letoublon, who attended a meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on behalf of Les Lycéens, praised the students for their demonstrations. He said the government is afraid and knows it must listen, but added that not all demands were met. Letoublon declared that the students will continue protesting for as long as it takes.

The protests have been joined by trade unions and cost-of-living demonstrators in regular Saturday marches. Several children have been maimed or seriously injured by police explosive weapons, while hundreds have been arrested and held in custody. Authorities increased security and placed restrictions on demonstrations after France experienced its worst day of violence in years on 17 October.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported a new phenomenon in cities like Nice and Montpellier, where ultra-right groups arrived in organized formations to target protesters. Eleven suspects are set to face charges. President Emmanuel Macron visited Marseille on Monday and warned that the next day of demonstrations on 31 October would be a day of risk.

Macron said the country should not be in such a state of turmoil six months before the presidential election, where he is scheduled to step down next spring and far-right leader Marine Le Pen is leading the polls. Authorities have admitted to security and intelligence failures that paved the way for the clashes on 17 October.