High School Protests in France Highlight Police Violence and Staffing Crises

On October 13, 2026, high school mobilizations continued across France with a sharp focus on denouncing police violence and addressing critical staffing shortages in education. According to the Ministry of National Education, 214 high schools remain closed amid the protests, with 147 education staff members reported injured since the movement began. The demonstrations in Paris have been particularly focused on the issue of police brutality, a central concern of the student protesters.

Meanwhile, government efforts to respond to the students' anger over teacher absences have revealed organizational challenges. The Minister of National Education pledged to deploy a large number of substitute teachers to fill gaps, but this plan has been hampered by chaotic and inefficient teacher allocations. Reports indicate that the official figure of 3,000 substitutes includes mismatches such as Spanish teachers assigned to English classes, resulting in little real classroom coverage despite the purported numbers.

This disorganization has intensified frustrations among students and educators alike, highlighting the complexity of managing staffing during a prolonged protest movement. The tension between calls for educational reform and concerns about police conduct suggests that the ongoing situation remains volatile and unresolved.