
During a solemn speech from Matignon, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu addressed high school students in full mobilization against educational reforms, denouncing the violence and promising an increase of 1.2 billion euros in the National Education budget for 2027, while student organizations are calling for continued mobilization on Thursday for an “Act IV”.
AI-generated summary
The high school crisis follows student mobilization against reforms perceived as unfair, in a context of increased social tensions post-Covid.
Mired in the high school crisis, the executive power is searching as best it can for ways of appeasement in the face of the risk of even broader social anger and a dreaded “convergence of struggles”. During a speech with a very solemn tone, from the Hôtel de Matignon, Wednesday evening, the day after a major mobilization and on the eve of an “Act IV”, Sébastien Lecornu donned his crisis manager costume.
Denouncing the “violence”, the “thousands of hours of lost lessons” and “the political leaders who use this anger”, the Prime Minister spoke with empathy to the high school students. A generation “entering adolescence during Covid”, to which he promises listening – an online platform has been opened to collect demands, with more than 40,000 contributions claimed – and “means”. In particular the increase of 1.2 billion euros in the National Education budget, planned in the 2027 budget project.
Also read High schools, fuels, budget: Emmanuel Macron and Sébastien Lecornu seek ways of appeasement
If classes resumed in the majority of high schools this Wednesday morning, the main student organizations called for continuing and amplifying the mobilization this Thursday. “We call for continued mobilization. Blockages October 7, demonstrations October 8,” launches the Student Union on its social networks, while the High School Union (USL) says it wants to support “all renewals decided by high school students,” affirming that “only victory will allow a return to calm.”
What, concretely, will Thursday’s “Act IV” look like (after “Act I” on September 29, “Act II” on October 1 and “Act III” on October 6)? Sandrine Kharbach, spokesperson for the Student Union, promised a “major mobilization date” on Tuesday on BFM TV. But the terms have not yet been detailed.
Present in the processions on Tuesday, the main national education unions will be there again. “Our five organizations will be in support of the mobilization” on Thursday, declared Wednesday at a press conference Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of SNES-FSU, the first secondary union on behalf of the CGT, FO, Sud and Unsa.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Student mobilization will continue Thursday with “Act IV”
Likely · Within days
The government will open an online platform to collect the demands of high school students
Very likely · Within days

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The mobilization of high school students and students continues in France to demand more resources and the reform of Parcoursup. Faced with tensions and violence, the government is trying to ease the crisis, in particular by suspending the use of stun grenades.
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