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Several high schools were blocked across France on Tuesday as tensions escalated between students and security forces, according to BFMTV.
Schools in Paris, Saint-Denis, Grenoble and Lille were reportedly affected during the morning. The Paris education authority said nearly 10 of the capital’s 90 high schools faced attempts to blockade their entrances.
Clashes reported at school complex
Tensions also rose at the Parc-Imperial school complex, the largest middle and high school in the Alpes-Maritimes department, which has about 3,000 students.
Police and firefighters intervened after students tried to block the school entrance and set electric bicycles on fire. The intervention resulted in a standoff between a large group of students and law enforcement officers, who were struck by projectiles.
Police later used tear gas to disperse the students. A “very strong and robust” security presence was reportedly expected outside schools as students in the Ile-de-France region continued mobilising following protests over the past week.
The students have been protesting overcrowded classes and timetables, as well as a shortage of teachers.
Public sector strike planned
Representative public sector trade unions also called a strike for Tuesday, seeking to increase pressure on the government just days before the announcement of the 2027 budget.
About 170 demonstrations were planned across the country, including in Nice, Marseille, Paris and Toulouse. Security forces were also expected to be deployed at the rallies.
France’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation reportedly asked airlines to reduce their flight schedules at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and Marseille-Provence airports.
