Following protests held across the country, the French government has decided to hire 3,000 substitute teachers for around 500 secondary schools, with the aim of addressing the lack of resources in the education system.
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Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced the measure on Thursday evening, after another day of demonstrations in cities across France. According to him, the schools will be selected based on staffing needs, while deployment will be coordinated through a new digital platform.
Although the government announced the new measures, student unions said the mobilization would continue. They are calling for measurable steps and greater investment to improve conditions in secondary schools.
Thursday’s protests involved around 71,000 people across France. According to figures from the authorities and organizers, 24,000 of them gathered in the Bastille area of Paris. Police used tear gas to disperse protesters after some groups threw stones and homemade fireworks.
The situation also became tense in other cities. In Bordeaux, protesters looted a secondary school, while in Marseille a deputy headteacher was assaulted. The government said that, since the protests began, 6,877 people have been arrested, 86 percent of them under the age of 18.
The package announced by Geffray also includes additional funds for teachers who agree to work overtime. The minister also promised that students’ demands would be considered during the debate on the state budget for 2027.
However, the announcement failed to convince representatives of the student movement. They said the government’s statements must be followed by concrete results and measures that directly affect educational conditions.
On Friday, around 140 secondary schools were fully or partially closed, out of a total of approximately 3,500 schools. The number was lower than in previous days, while organizers have announced further protests for next Tuesday.
