French Students Take to the Streets as Education Funding Drops a Fifth

Students in France took to the streets again this weekend, demanding better facilities and a clearer path forward as the cost of living climbs. The Ministry of Interior reported that 410,000 people participated in nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, with 110,000 of them gathered in Paris.

The unrest began in mid-September when high school students blockaded campuses. They cited overcrowded classrooms, which often hold 32 to 35 pupils, and buildings that have fallen into disrepair. Teachers joined the cause, citing low salaries that lag behind those in neighboring countries.

Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows the wage gap is stark. A school teacher in France earns a gross salary of 41,968 euros per year. In Germany, the same position pays 69,453 euros. Social taxes and high pension contributions further reduce the take-home pay for French educators.

The protests have expanded beyond the schools. Trade unions and civil servants have joined the movement, opposing the government’s proposed 54 billion euro package of cost-cutting and tax measures for the 2027 budget. This plan includes salary freezes for public employees, a move that worries young people who fear they will bear the weight of reduced public spending.

Amin Snoussi, a journalist and former parliamentary assistant, described the state of public high schools as dire. He noted that students are studying in cold, dirty buildings, some of which are infested with rats. He pointed out that absent teachers have not been replaced for over six months in some schools, even as teaching jobs are cut and public money flows to private institutions.

President Emmanuel Macron met with student representatives for the first time on Friday, but the meeting did not ease tensions. Student leaders called for further mobilization until the government presents concrete actions. On Monday, Macron told reporters in Marseille that he has asked his government to address the legitimate demands driving the protest movement.

Fiscal constraints explain the government’s hesitation. Lucas Chancel, an economist at the World Inequality Lab, noted that the public budget for higher education, student life, and research has decreased by 20 percent since 2017 when adjusted for inflation. France’s national debt has ballooned to 3.6 trillion euros, or 119 percent of its gross domestic product. The deficit is projected to reach 5.4 percent of GDP in 2026, far above the European Union average of just over 3 percent.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu acknowledged on October 7 that the anger among young people did not come out of nowhere. He promised a plan to address the crisis by the end of October. He has instructed his ministers to review spending, noting that nearly one-third of some ministry budgets goes toward pensions for retired civil servants, which limits funds available for education.

Economist Thomas Piketty argues that the issue is one of distribution rather than total wealth. He noted that private wealth in France has grown from 300 percent to 600 percent of GDP, concentrated among the wealthiest. He advocates for reinvesting in education and health, stating that such measures help the economy produce greater output with fewer resources.

Antonio Fatas, a professor of economics at INSEAD, cautioned that France’s growth has been limited for years. He said the country faces political paralysis regarding reform decisions. The government is expected to announce changes to Parcoursup, the national online university admissions platform, as it seeks a way forward.