Hundreds of thousands of pupils took to the streets in a sweeping wave of protests across France, demanding increased resources for schools and an end to police repression. The demonstrations began in Paris’s Place de la République, where teenage protesters marched in front of city halls, chanting for better educational funding and less use of force from authorities.
The unrest spread quickly, with students joining parents, university scholars and unions. By the end of the day a total of thousands of demonstrators marched through major cities, including Lyon, Marseille and Rennes.
Police response varied from city to city. In Paris and Marseille riot police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds, while in Rennes they used water cannons. Despite the police presence, the protests remained largely non‑violent and less disruptive than previous demonstrations in France.
BBC Europe correspondent Nick Beake reported the events from Lille, noting the scale of the protests and the broader call for reforms in the French education system.
