French government faces ongoing student and teacher protests over education reforms

The French government, led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, is facing widespread protests from students, teachers, and academic staff. The unrest centers on systemic issues, including the Parcoursup university admission platform, teacher shortages, poor building conditions, and a controversial plan to eliminate 1,588 teaching positions. Negotiations began on October 26, 2026, with meetings between the Prime Minister and student organizations, alongside discussions between Education Minister Édouard Geffray and teacher unions.

Following these talks, the government announced several concessions on October 27, including plans to set caps on class sizes, renovate school facilities, and reform the university admissions process. Despite these proposals, teacher unions have criticized the measures as insufficient to resolve the core crisis. While some student leaders acknowledged these moves as a positive initial step, they have confirmed that demonstrations will continue, demanding more substantial commitments rather than surface-level promises to address the institutional dysfunction within the French educational sector.