French student leaders said on Monday, October 26, that the government had offered a package of education proposals in response to weeks of street protests — but vowed to keep demonstrating, because the measures fell short of their demands.
Emerging from a meeting with government officials, the students said the proposals included capping the size of some classes, loans for renovating schools and the replacement of Parcoursup, the online university admissions system they see as unfair.
"Not all our demands were met. We'll go on for as long as it takes," said Louis Letoublon, one of the representatives of the high school students.
A deal with no price tag yet
There was no immediate confirmation of the education proposals from the government. A press conference to announce the details was delayed, and there were no immediate details on how much funding any package would require.
The commitments followed talks between Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and student organizations on Monday. While some school-student representatives welcomed the promises, L'Union Étudiante dismissed them as insufficient. "Zero out of ten for Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who is offering only crumbs on Parcoursup in response to young people's historic mobilisation," the organization wrote on X.
The hands of President Emmanuel Macron's minority government are tied by national debt approaching 120% of GDP and high new borrowing needs that are already making it difficult to agree a budget for next year.
A movement that started in the classrooms
The protests began with high school students denouncing underfunded schools, teacher shortages, crumbling infrastructure, crowded classrooms and an opaque admissions system. Within weeks, at least 250,000 people were on the streets, with teachers, trade union members and supporters of the left-wing France Unbowed party joining in.
The movement has since expanded, drawing in trade unions and "yellow vest" activists, known for their high-visibility jackets and mass demonstrations against economic pressures including high fuel costs.
Saturday's protests ended in clashes again. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported 1,435 arrests and 267 police officers injured, with more than 500 people hurt in total. Further demonstrations are planned for Saturday, October 31, followed by a union-led strike and protest day on November 5.
The protests cross borders
The unrest has spread beyond France. In Barcelona, Spain, protesters set fire to trash bins and looted stores around Catalonia Square, leading to clashes with police; local authorities reported 128 arrests, 73 of them minors. In Italy, demonstrations filled Rome, Milan, Turin and Florence, with some protesters clashing with police in Rome and even entering the Colosseum. In Brussels, around 400 protesters took to the streets, with nine arrests.
Fuentes: Reuters vía LA Post, 26 oct 2026; Aju Press, 26 oct 2026; Pollar News, 26 oct 2026; EU Perspectives, 26 oct 2026.