Education Minister Geffray Offers €4bn Loan to Regions to Repair Schools

French high school students will keep barricading their classrooms and joining street demonstrations, according to a student union statement released on Monday. The decision came hours after the government unveiled a new package of education reforms intended to end the ongoing crisis.

Pierre Sourzat, a representative for the student group Les Lycéens, told France Info television that the group is currently at the negotiating table with the government. He described the situation as a power struggle that requires continued mobilization to secure their full list of demands.

The government presented several specific proposals to student representatives. Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced a €4 billion loan for regional authorities to begin repairing school buildings. He noted that some facilities are so dilapidated they are not fit for teaching.

Geffray addressed complaints about overcrowded classes by announcing a cap on class sizes. In the 50% of schools located in the lowest-income areas, classes for 15-year-olds will be limited to 28 students. This cap will extend to all high schools next year. The government also plans to create additional teaching positions and review the baccalaureate examination system.

Changes to university admissions are also scheduled. The Parcoursup application platform, which critics have called opaque, will be modified in 2027 and replaced by a new system in 2028. Parliament is set to debate this issue on Wednesday.

Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste said the government will create 15,000 additional student places in higher education, with a focus on vocational courses. He stated that the government’s door remains open for further discussions.

Louis Letoublon, who met with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on behalf of Les Lycéens, expressed mixed feelings about the outcome. He credited the students for forcing the government to listen but noted that not all demands were met. He pledged that the group would continue their efforts for as long as necessary.

The current protests are part of a larger movement that began more than five weeks ago in September. High school pupils joined forces with trade unions and cost-of-living protesters for regular Saturday marches. The demonstrations were triggered by teacher shortages and poor building conditions, including collapsing ceilings, mold, and broken windows.

Security concerns have risen alongside the student unrest. Several children have been injured by police weapons, and hundreds have been arrested. After a violent day in October featuring looting and fires, authorities introduced curfews and restricted protest routes in certain cities.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said ultra-right groups arrived in organized formations in cities like Nice and Montpellier over the weekend to target protesters. Eleven suspects are facing charges. President Emmanuel Macron visited Marseille on Monday and warned that the demonstration scheduled for October 31 would be a day of risk as the country heads toward a presidential election.