France student protests explained: Why hundreds of students and teachers are demonstrating, over 400 detained

France faced nationwide strikes and student protests as civil servants walked off the job and students blocked hundreds of schools over budget cuts, teacher shortages and overcrowded classrooms. The protests came two days before Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's government is due to present its 2027 budget, which includes a planned €54 billion savings programme.

The protests have increased pressure on the government as it seeks to reduce France's deficit and debt ahead of next year's presidential election. The education ministry said around 400 of the country's roughly 3,700 schools were affected by protests or disruptions on Tuesday.

More than 440 people, most of them minors, were detained, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. Officials also said at least 10 teachers, several students and 48 law enforcement officers were injured during the unrest.

Students take protests beyond Paris

The student protests began in the Paris region last week before spreading to cities including Lille, Lyon, Nantes, Marseille, Bordeaux and Rennes. Students have raised concerns about teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, school conditions and timetables. Some demonstrations remained peaceful, while others led to clashes with police.

In Lille, students set rubbish bins on fire outside the Lycée César Baggio. Police responded with tear gas and batons after protesters threw objects.

In Paris, students blocked the entrance to the Lycée Arago with bins. A placard displayed the words "Macron explosion". At the Hélène-Boucher school, protesters put up a banner reading "Fewer cops, More money".

"We want fewer police because we think there is a huge amount of police repression, both against high school student movements and social movements more generally," final-year student Mael Breton told Reuters.

Students have also pointed to the pressure on teachers and crowded classrooms. “There are 34 of us in each class, and it’s just not feasible. The teachers are overworked,” a 16-year-old student told AFP, describing the education system as “completely broken.”

Lecornu condemned violence around schools but said students' concerns about the education system needed to be heard and addressed. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said students had the right to protest but called violence "indefensible".

Civil servants join nationwide strike

The student protests took place alongside a wider strike by public-sector workers, including teachers, healthcare workers and firefighters. Unions organised more than 170 rallies across France against the government's budget plans and its proposal to freeze state employees' base salaries in 2027. The CGT union has said repeated pay freezes have reduced workers' purchasing power.

Firefighters also joined the action after major wildfires during the summer raised concerns about available resources. The education ministry said slightly more than 11% of teachers and other school staff were on strike. Participation among other civil servants was below 10%.

Transport disruption was limited during the morning, although the aviation regulator warned that some airports could face disruptions. CGT leader Sophie Binet said the government had 48 hours to withdraw the planned spending cuts before the union considers further strike action.

"This summer, who was on the front line? It wasn't the billionaires, the big bosses or the shareholders. It was civil servants and working people. And how are they being thanked? By cutting their pay? The anger is enormous," she told BFMTV.

Why the budget is at the centre of the anger

Lecornu's government is seeking to reduce spending as France deals with a rising debt burden. The proposed €54 billion savings package is intended to lower the public deficit. The government has also warned that public debt could reach 121.7% of GDP in 2027.

France's public debt stood at €3.595 trillion at the end of June, equal to around 119% of GDP, according to national statistics agency Insee. The cost of servicing the debt is also increasing. France is expected to spend around €79 billion on interest payments this year. The government estimates that this could rise to €91 billion in 2027.

The protests therefore bring together two separate areas of concern: unions are opposing proposed spending and pay measures, while students are demanding more teachers and better resources for schools. The government's draft 2027 budget is due to be presented two days after the nationwide mobilisation.