French students block dozens of high schools to pressure education reforms

Students blocked 48 of France's 3,700 high schools on Tuesday, stepping up pressure on the government over education reforms. The protests resumed after a two‑week autumn break, with students demanding renovation of dilapidated schools, smaller class sizes and more university places. Authorities listed Paris, Rennes, Toulouse and Lyon among the blocked schools; the Union syndicale lycienne disputed the count, claiming 500 schools were shut. The student union condemned what it called heavy‑handed tactics, saying young people were pinned against walls and riot police units were deployed outside schools. A union representative told AFP the aim was to suppress the movement and stop Thursday’s mobilisation. On Thursday, students plan another day of blockades as trade unions have called a nationwide strike. In Rennes, around 30 pupils blocked access to Brequigny High School, one of the country's largest secondary schools, leading to a heated exchange with a staff member. The school actions have fed a broader movement against soaring prices and poor public services, drawing hundreds of thousands onto the streets over the past three weekends and sparking unrest on Oct 17. The French government recently announced reforms to the university admissions process, but student leaders say the measures fall short of their demands. On Monday, officials said 42 high schools, about 1 % of the total, were blocked, while unions put the figure at 169, and roughly 15 % of higher‑education institutions were affected.## Context The protests form part of a growing wave of youth activism in France, where students use school blockades to pressure authorities on policy issues such as education funding and the cost of living.