Education Minister Geffray Announces €4bn School Repair Loan as Student Union Maintains Blockade Stance

French high school students were told to continue barricading their campuses and joining street protests on Monday, a directive issued by the student union Les Lycéens after the government unveiled a package of education measures. Pierre Sourzat, a representative for Les Lycéens, stated that the group remains engaged in a power struggle and requires sustained mobilization to secure its demands.

Édouard Geffray, the education minister, announced a €4 billion loan for regional authorities to repair school buildings. He described some institutions as unfit for teaching due to structural issues including collapsing ceilings, mold, broken toilets, and windows that fail to shut. The funding aims to address the physical state of schools that have been central to student complaints since blockades began in September.

The government also agreed to cap class sizes for 15-year-olds in the first year of high school at 28 students. This limit will apply to the 50 percent of schools located in the lowest-income areas, with plans to extend the cap to all high schools next year. Geffray said the ministry will create additional teaching posts to alleviate overcrowding.

Changes to university admissions are also planned. The current platform, Parcoursup, which critics have called opaque, will be modified in 2027 and replaced by a new system in 2028. Philippe Baptiste, the higher education minister, stated that 15,000 extra student places would be created, with a focus on vocational courses. Parliament is scheduled to debate these changes on Wednesday.

Despite these concessions, student leaders viewed the measures as partial. Louis Letoublon, who attended a meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, noted that the government appeared fearful and aware of the need to listen. He affirmed that not all demands were met and that the union would continue its efforts until they were satisfied. Sourzat echoed this sentiment, asking for concrete measures rather than half-measures.

The unrest has escalated beyond schools, with trade unions and cost-of-living protesters joining regular Saturday demonstrations. Several children have been seriously injured or maimed during protests, with injuries attributed to police explosive weapons. Hundreds of students have been arrested and held in police custody. Authorities increased security measures and restricted demonstration routes following severe violence on 17 October, which included looting and vandalism of state buildings.

President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the likelihood of continued street protests and labeled 31 October a day of risk. He stated that the looting and vandalism seen previously should not recur and called the current state of turmoil abnormal six months before a presidential election. Macron is set to step down next spring, while Marine Le Pen currently leads the polls. The government admitted to security and intelligence failures that contributed to the clashes on 17 October.