By Omar El Sayed – World Editor
High school and university students across France took to the streets on October 13, 2026, launching a national day of mobilization to protest against deteriorating living conditions and educational inequities. Through the blockade of high schools throughout the country, young protesters are seeking to denounce social and territorial inequalities while demanding the right to be taken seriously by decision-makers.
The movement, which has since been joined by university students, highlights deep-seated concerns regarding the future of French youth. According to sociologist Yaëlle Amsellem-Mainguy, the participants are primarily under the age of 18 and do not yet possess the right to vote. Consequently, they are utilizing the streets and social media to express their views on critical issues affecting their lives.
The protesters’ grievances include several key areas of concern within the educational system:
- The selectivity of higher education through the Parcoursup system.
- Degraded learning conditions in high schools and even middle schools.
- The failure to replace absent teachers.
- A lack of school health personnel.
- Unsanitary conditions and poor thermal adaptation in school buildings.
Yaëlle Amsellem-Mainguy, a research fellow at the National Institute for Youth and Popular Education and an associate professor at ENS Paris-Saclay, suggests that these actions are a direct response to the youth’s desire to influence society.
Speaking on the significance of the October 2026 movement, she noted that “par les blocages, les lycéens ont trouvé les moyens de se faire entendre,” meaning that through blockades, high school students have found ways to make themselves heard.
