Swedish activist Greta Thunberg joined high school students protesting poor learning conditions in France on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The demonstrations have increased pressure on the government to address teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school buildings. Trade unions and the left-wing France Unbowed party support the movement.
The 23-year-old activist visited Paul Eluard High School in Saint-Denis, a suburb north of Paris. The school has become a major centre of the protests. Lawyers formed a human chain to protect students following allegations of police brutality. Speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Thunberg said authorities were ignoring young people’s concerns and putting their future at risk.
Students planned a midday march through Paris alongside demonstrations in other French cities. More than 70,000 people joined the previous major protest last Thursday. In the Paris region, students blocked school entrances before dawn. Meanwhile, protesters in Marseille pushed wheeled dumpsters towards their school entrances. They hope their actions will pressure the government to improve educational conditions.
French students want the government to address teacher absences, ageing school buildings and overcrowded schedules. Most demonstrations have remained peaceful, although some have sparked clashes with police. The education ministry reported eight injured teaching staff on Monday. Authorities also reported injuries caused by fireworks. Meanwhile, police have opened internal investigations into 24 allegations of brutality against demonstrators.
The unrest has raised concerns among government officials. The justice ministry reported that police had detained more than 6,800 people, mostly minors, during the protests. Education Minister Edouard Geffray said around 200 schools had closed by Tuesday, fewer than the previous week. President Emmanuel Macron urged protesters to remain calm and called for dialogue, consultation and mutual respect.
The government has promised to deploy approximately 3,000 substitute teachers to the 114 high schools suffering the worst staff shortages. Geffray said officials had already assigned 35 per cent of those teachers. However, students argue that temporary replacements alone cannot solve the education system’s deeper problems. They are demanding an additional €10 billion to improve France’s upper-secondary schools and provide better learning environments.
The protests could gain further momentum as students seek support from the wider public. Organisers expect Saturday’s demonstrations against the rising cost of living to attract people with similar concerns about government policies. Thunberg’s participation has also drawn international attention to the movement. As students continue their campaign, the government faces growing pressure to address their demands and improve conditions across France’s schools.
