France Allocates €4bn to Regional Authorities for School Repairs

The French government will provide a €4 billion loan to regional authorities to repair high school buildings in poor condition.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced the financial package on Monday. He stated that some schools are currently "not fit" for teaching. The loan is intended to fund the repair of crumbling infrastructure, including collapsing ceilings, mould, and broken windows. Geffray also announced that class sizes for 15-year-olds in the first year of high school will be capped at 28 students. This limit will apply to the 50% of schools located in the lowest-income areas this year and will expand to all high schools next year. The government plans to create additional teaching posts and review the baccalaureate examination system.

Pierre Sourzat of the student union Les Lycéens met with government officials to discuss the proposals. He characterized the negotiations as a power struggle. "We want measures, not half measures," Sourzat told France Info television. Louis Letoublon, who represented the union in a meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, acknowledged that the government had responded to pressure. "The government is afraid and knows it must do something and listen to us," Letoublon said. He noted that not all demands were met and that the students would continue their mobilization.

The announcement comes more than five weeks after high school blockades began in September. The protests have joined forces with trade unions and cost-of-living demonstrators for regular Saturday street marches. Students originally demanded an end to staff shortages and repairs to buildings with broken toilets and a lack of chairs. The higher education minister, Philippe Baptiste, added that 15,000 extra student places would be created in vocational courses. The university application platform Parcoursup will be modified in 2027 and replaced by a new system in 2028. Parliament is scheduled to debate the changes on Wednesday.

Security concerns remain high following a day of violence on 17 October that included looting and fires. Authorities have increased security measures and placed restrictions on demonstrations. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said ultra-right groups arrived in organized formations in cities such as Nice and Montpellier. Eleven suspects face charges related to the unrest. Several children were injured in the protests, with allegations that police used explosive weapons. Hundreds of students have been arrested and held in police custody. Curfews and protest bans are in effect in certain cities, and routes for Saturday demonstrations were pushed to the outskirts.

President Emmanuel Macron visited Marseille on Monday and described the upcoming demonstrations on 31 October as a "day of risk." He stated that the looting seen on 17 October should not happen again. Macron noted that the country is in a state of turmoil six months before a presidential election. He steps down next spring, and Marine Le Pen currently leads the polls. Authorities have admitted to security and intelligence failures that contributed to the recent clashes.