French students escalate school blockades nationwide as protests enter third week

French high school and university students launch nationwide school blockades starting Monday, rejecting government concessions as insufficient. The movement, now in its third consecutive weekend, drew hundreds of thousands across France Saturday, including Marseille's La Plaine neighbourhood where police in riot gear confronted demonstrators organized by Yellow Vests, labour unions, and student groups.

Student leader Pierre Sourzat of "Lyceens!" announced blockades resume Monday as students return from a two-week holiday, intensifying Tuesday. Union Etudiante plans additional university and high school blockades Tuesday and Thursday. Protesters demand comprehensive reform of the university admissions platform and reduced class sizes across all grades—not just 10th grade as the government proposed.

President Macron urged a calm return to classes claiming "young people have been heard," but Sourzat dismissed measures as "smoke and mirrors" that fail to address severe shortages of higher education places. With France's economy on the brink of recession and debt constraints limiting new spending, further concessions appear unlikely.

The standoff continues with blockades scheduled through Thursday as both sides dig in, threatening prolonged disruption to an education system already strained by inequality and infrastructure deficits.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/11/01/french-school-blockades-to-restart-from-monday-student-group/