Geffray unveils €4bn school repair loan as students vow to keep barricading

Education minister Édouard Geffray announced a €4bn loan for regional authorities to repair dilapidated school buildings on Monday, but the student union Les Lycéens rejected the package and ordered members to continue barricading schools. The announcement came more than five weeks after high school blockades began in September and marks the government's direct response to what has become France's largest youth protest movement in years.

The government's concessions include capping class sizes for 15-year-olds at 28 students in the 50% of schools located in the lowest-income areas, a limit that will extend to all high schools next year. Geffray also confirmed that additional teaching posts will be created and that the national baccalaureate system will undergo review. Separately, the university application platform Parcoursup will be modified in 2027 and replaced by a new system in 2028 to address complaints that the current process is opaque and unfair.

Pierre Sourzat of Les Lycéens told France Info television that the union is currently at the negotiating table but remains in a power struggle with the state. "We want measures, not half measures," Sourzat said, emphasizing that the union needs to maintain mobilization to satisfy its maximum demands. Louis Letoublon, who attended a meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on behalf of the union, stated that the government is now afraid and knows it must listen, but noted that not all demands were met. The union intends to protest for as long as necessary.

The protests have escalated beyond school buildings, with trade unions and cost-of-living protesters joining regular Saturday street demonstrations. High school pupils originally demanded an end to staff shortages and repairs for buildings plagued by collapsing ceilings, mould, broken toilets, and windows that would not shut. Geffray described some schools as not fit for teaching due to their condition.

Higher education minister Philippe Baptiste said 15,000 extra student places will be created in higher education, with a focus on vocational courses. He added that the government's door remains open for further discussions. Parliament is scheduled to hold a debate on the university application changes on Wednesday.

Security conditions have tightened following violent clashes on 17 October, which authorities described as the worst day of unrest in years. Interior minister Laurent Nuñez reported that eleven suspects face charges after ultra-right groups arrived in organized formations in cities like Nice and Montpellier. Authorities have admitted to security and intelligence failures that allowed the violence to occur. President Emmanuel Macron labeled the coming 31 October demonstrations a day of risk while visiting Marseille, noting the country is in a state of turmoil six months before a presidential election.