Mobilization of high schools under high tension: 400 establishments closed and nearly 2000 arrests

Four hundred high schools closed by the authorities, many distance learning courses: after Thursday's violence, the high school movement continues on Friday under high tension, while the Minister of Education must meet unions and high school associations. The movement to block high schools, joined by students to demand more resources, ignited Thursday in many cities in France, with Matignon condemning “urban violence” and attributing responsibility to La France insoumise.

In all, 900 actions were counted in front of high schools, all departments now being concerned, and the police made nearly 2,000 arrests, according to the authorities. More than 300 police officers and gendarmes were injured, with Minister Laurent Nuñez condemning “unbridled violence”. Seven months before the presidential election, in an electric social and political climate, this mobilization is more than sensitive. All the prefects issued orders on Thursday evening prohibiting demonstrations on Friday near closed high schools.

Thus the Paris police prefect, Patrice Faure, banned gatherings around 13 Parisian high schools closed on Friday, the names of which were listed in the decree. In all departments, the same instructions were given, the Interior Ministry added. In Rennes, Friday morning, tension is already present, with high school students present in front of the Jean Macé public high school, some wearing hoods and black, not far from numerous police officers.

“For us we won, our high school closed this morning,” testifies Lola, 16, who does not wish to give her name, who deplores the violence: “it enrages us even more, the police do not have the right to beat us, to gas us,” she slips, adding to demonstrate against “understaffing, for more money, for the elimination of Parcoursup and for less busy schedules.” According to the Prime Minister's office, the movement would be a “maneuver organized by LFI and its ultra-left proxies”. Following these accusations, LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard criticized Matignon for “sinking into conspiracy”.

The Minister of Education, Édouard Geffray, for his part judged that “the high school movement is being taken hostage by small, ultra-violent groups.” The minister announced Thursday evening that nearly 400 high schools (out of 3,700 in the country) would be closed on Friday. “The first thing is to protect our students,” he said. “I also say it to parents: don’t let your children leave in this kind of context.” Édouard Geffray also announced that 65 National Education staff and 170 students have been injured since the start of the movement. “There is clearly an enterprise of attack and destruction of the public education service.”

In this explosive context, the government has renounced charging registration fees for BTS or prep classes, a measure included in the 2027 draft budget presented the same morning and castigated by the left and several unions. In order to renew the dialogue, Édouard Geffray must meet on Friday with education unions and high school associations, including the High School Union, spearheading the mobilization, and parents of students, as well as elected officials from the National Council for High School Life. His “objective”, he specified on X: “to make these exchanges concrete progress in the service of students, staff and the School”.

On Friday, many high schools planned to provide distance learning, particularly in Marseille. In total on Thursday, “1027 establishments”, out of around 3700 high schools in France, “were affected by the high school movement on Thursday, including 222 blockages”, according to the Ministry of the Interior. Students joined the movement, with around thirty campuses blocked. The organizations are calling for a continuation of the movement, before a large demonstration on Tuesday.