Youth and Educators Mobilize for New Strikes Against Parcoursup Reform Amidst Government Deadlock

On November 10, extensive strikes and protests are scheduled across France, called by an intersyndicale coalition that includes student groups and educators, intensifying the ongoing confrontation over the Parcoursup reform. This new day of action follows nearly two months of youth-led mobilizations and a major demonstration on November 5, which drew between 575,000 and 1.6 million participants nationwide.

The immediate trigger for this escalation was a recent meeting at Matignon, presided over by the Prime Minister, which ended without any announcements or concrete resolutions on the contentious Parcoursup reform. Student and high school organizations expressed surprise and frustration over the lack of progress and also protested the attendance of the UNI syndicate and members of the far-right Rassemblement National at this committee meeting, reflecting deep tensions and mistrust among protest groups.

Key figures in the movement remain determined to maintain pressure on the government. Éloïse Lefebvre-Milon, co-secretary general of the Union étudiante, called on supporters of the youth and workers' demands to take to the streets, while Ryad Rani from the Union syndicale lycéenne emphasized the need for ongoing mobilization.

The government has proposed gradual changes to Parcoursup by 2027 with a complete overhaul set for 2028. However, these promises have not quelled the unrest. Despite the upcoming protests on November 10 expected to be smaller than the massive turnout on November 5, a significant presence of educators is anticipated, with the Paris march starting at 2 pm from the Panthéon to Place d’Italie.

In addition to the youth protests, a broader public sector strike is planned for November 17, focusing on salary increase demands, signaling a widening discontent within France’s public institutions. The situation illustrates a sustained national crisis over education reform, with youth and workers increasingly unified in their opposition.