Live
France is bracing for nationwide demonstrations on Tuesday as student movements, labor unions and opposition factions converge over deteriorating school infrastructure—chief concerns include lingering teacher absences and crumbling campuses. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has allied herself with protesters outside a blockaded Lycée Paul Eluard in Saint‑Denis, swelling the movement’s profile even as authorities warn that escalating unrest persists despite a dip in reported school closures. Stay tuned to the liveblog for real‑time updates.
13/10/2026 – 10:15
In pictures: ‘Liberty guiding the students’
Students blocked the entrance to the Lycée Montaigne in the sixth arrondissement of Paris.
A homage to Delacroix’s iconic “Liberty Guiding the People”. Credit: Sarah Meyssonnier, Reuters
13/10/2026 – 09:53
Greta Thunberg joins France school protests
The 23‑year‑old global known for striking at age 15 now stands among pupils chanting near a blockade at the Paul‑Eluard high school in Saint‑Denis, dramatically raising the national visibility of the week‑long demonstration.
13/10/2026 – 09:25
Will first government measures take the steam out of protests?
The French authority has deployed approximately 3,000 temporary teaching staff to schools plagued by chronic staffing shortages, after more than two weeks of intermittent, occasionally violent street battles. Authorities now question whether these instructors—sourced from across the country—will be sufficient to defuse fresh unrest, particularly amid renewed criticism of police conduct.
13/10/2026 – 08:47
Absent teachers and dilapidated buildings
Although major clashes remain rare, participants stress that their voices feel unheard. One 19‑year‑old graphic design student named Leo remarked, “Students aren’t being listened to enough… not their proposals to officials.”
13/10/2026 – 05:41
France prepares for more nationwide protests
Authorities scheduled additional mass rallies across France, including a morning march in Paris at 12:00 GMT, alongside events in other cities. On Monday, only 130 of France’s 3,700 secondary schools reported closures, although the Ministry of Education noted a sharp rise in violent encounters.
13/10/2026 – 05:40
Welcome to the France 24 liveblog covering the student protesters in France. Recent developments can be tracked here.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
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