PARIS.- French student organisations called on Monday for a "black day" of university blockades and general assemblies on Tuesday, November 3, and for a mass mobilisation in the streets on Thursday, November 5, in a protest movement that has lasted more than a month, even as the government described Monday's return to school blockades as "residual" after the autumn holidays.
The National Union of Students of France (UNEF) issued the call on Monday in a social media message quoted by EFE: "Does the government not want to listen to us? On November 3, black day in the universities: go to the general assemblies and block your faculties. On November 5, let's take to the streets massively." The Thursday mobilisation coincides with the inter-union strike in defence of purchasing power and public services, in which railway workers and other sectors are also expected to take part.
Monday was the first day back after two weeks of autumn holidays, and the picture was disputed. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said the blockades were "residual" and affected only a few schools for now, defending the right of students who want to attend class. According to the Education Ministry, at 9:30 a.m. only 41 high schools, around 1 percent of the total, remained blocked, and three quarters of departments reported no disruption.
The High School Union (USL), however, said at midday that more than 150 schools were blocked across the country. Other student organisations, including high school pupils and university students, announced blockades for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, as well as participation in the November 5 general strike day promoted by French unions. A student demonstration is also planned for Tuesday in Paris, from the Panthéon to the Medef employers' headquarters, according to Sortiraparis.
The students reject the government's education package as insufficient to solve unequal access to higher education, deteriorating infrastructure, overcrowded classes and a lack of resources and places. The government has announced the progressive replacement of the Parcoursup university admission system by 2028, funding to refurbish schools, new university places and teacher recruitment, but the organisations say those measures do not go far enough.
Read more on The Wire Post: France Braces for Its Most Dangerous Week: School Blockades Tuesday, General Strike Thursday as Emmanuel Macron's Approval Hits a Record Low, Laurent Nuñez Puts France's Third Saturday Arrests at 565 as Students Call School Blockades and a November 5 General Strike and Édouard Geffray Calls France's School Blockades "Residual" as Students Resume Protests and Build Toward the November 5 General Strike.
Sources: EFE via ABC Color and Infobae, Sortiraparis, teleSUR, November 2, 2026.