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A young protester speaks to the camera while holding a cardboard sign at a street demonstration in France.

A young demonstrator holds a sign reading “Fund our high schools” during education protests in France, where more than 250,000 people have rallied for better school funding and conditions. Photo: PBS NewsHour

Why French Students Are Leading Massive Protests Across the Country

October 9, 2026

Why French Students Are Leading Massive Protests Across the Country

More than 250,000 people have protested across France, with students at the forefront, demanding smaller classes and better school buildings. Students explore what’s driving the demonstrations and whether similar tensions exist in U.S. schools.

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Protests are continuing in France after more than 250,000 people took to the streets across the country to demand education reforms. Demonstrations began in mid-September, fueled by frustrations over classroom sizes and poor building conditions. Special correspondent William Denselow reports from Paris.

View the transcript of the story.

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What do you want to learn more about? You can also make a Google doc copy of these general discussion questions.

Warm-Up Questions

  1. How many people protested in France on October 6, 2026?
  2. When did these protests start?
  3. How many arrests have been made, according to this segment?
  4. Why are students, faculty, parents and trade/labor unions protesting?
  5. What is the current public debt of France?

Essential Questions

  • How do you think this series of events influence France's upcoming election in April?
  • Do you think similar issues and tensions exist in the United States? Or are France and the United States too different for these protests to reflect conflict around education here as well?
  • Media literacy: Do you think student protests in the U.S. get the same level of media coverage as student protests in France? Do you think they're covered differently, and if so, how?

What Students Can Do

Read ABC's latest article about the Mayor of Saint-Denis who got tear-gassed while shielding his students, and answer the following questions:

  1. Why is Mayor Bally Bagayoko out on the front lines of these intense protests?
  2. Mayor Bagayoko says, "The state allocates fewer resources for working-class neighborhoods than the affluent Parisian neighborhoods...That is an incontestable reality." After reflecting on both readings, does this information add a new layer to the story? Why are these protests continuing despite the dangers that come with it?

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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.

PBS News Hour Classroom
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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