PARIS, October 2, 2026: Student protests over school conditions and education funding have intensified across France, with riot police clashing with high school students in several cities and around 400 high schools remaining closed on Friday.

The demonstrations began with blockades outside lycées, France's upper-secondary schools, where teenagers used rubbish bins, furniture and other objects to restrict access to school entrances. The protests initially emerged in the Paris suburbs in mid-September before spreading to other parts of the country through social media.

The unrest has increasingly turned violent. In Strasbourg, police used tear gas, while fireworks were directed at police lines in Marseille. In Rennes, rubbish bins were reportedly set on fire, while clashes were also reported in Paris.

According to figures cited in the reports provided, more than 3,000 people have been detained since the protests began, including 1,949 people on October 1. Reuters separately reported that Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin put the number of arrests at around 2,000, highlighting differences between the figures reported by authorities at different points.

The protests are being driven by concerns about overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, inadequate facilities and years of underinvestment in education. Students have also raised concerns about insufficient classroom resources and difficult conditions in schools.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray urged parents to discourage their children from taking part in street protests, warning that young people could face danger. Justice Minister Darmanin said the movement had been joined by people from outside the student community and argued that parents should potentially be responsible for repairing property damaged by their children.

The government's planned budget measures have added to concerns over education spending. Reuters reported that education is expected to receive a below-inflation budget increase, further fuelling criticism from students and others involved in the demonstrations.

Rights group Amnesty International criticised what it described as excessive police force, while France's Interior Ministry said it had opened three investigations into alleged police violence against protesters.

The demonstrations have also shown signs of spreading beyond France. Students in Liège, Belgium, reportedly began protests on Thursday, with high schools in the city closed on Friday.

The situation remains fluid as French authorities attempt to contain the unrest while students continue to demand improvements in school infrastructure, staffing, classroom conditions and education funding.