France promises 3,000 extra teachers to calm student protests

The French government has made its first significant concession to teenage protesters by promising the deployment of 3,000 extra supply teachers in the coming days. Education minister Edouard Geffray made the offer in a television interview on Thursday evening. This announcement came at the end of another day marked by sometimes violent demonstrations organized by high-school students across the country. Government figures indicate that nearly 6,900 people have been arrested since the protests began three weeks ago, with an overwhelming majority under the age of 18.

In what unions termed Act Four of the movement, approximately 71,000 people staged protests nationwide, including 24,000 who gathered at the Bastille in Paris. Police once again intervened using tear gas to disperse groups that attacked officers with paving stones and homemade fireworks. Isolated incidents of violence were reported in other regions as well, such as Bordeaux, where a high school was ransacked, and Marseille, where a deputy head teacher was assaulted. By Friday, roughly 140 out of 3,500 lycées were totally or partially closed, representing a decline from previous days, though another day of action has already been called for the upcoming Tuesday.

Geffray's announcement directly addresses one of the core complaints of the student movement: the significant loss of school hours due to absent teachers and the failure to replace them with available supply staff. The minister explained that a new software system coming online will enable the ministry to efficiently direct 3,000 supply teachers to roughly 500 lycées identified as being in the greatest need. Many of these educational institutions are located in high-immigration city suburbs where teacher shortages are most severe. Additionally, Geffray stated that more funding will be allocated through an existing scheme to compensate teachers willing to work overtime hours, and he promised that student grievances would be incorporated into forthcoming discussions on the 2027 state budget.

Despite these assurances, the government's offer falls short of major new investments on the scale required to fully appease the protesters. Officials remain cautious, wary of appearing to purchase social peace while France navigates a precarious national debt situation closely monitored by international financial markets. Student leaders have consequently expressed guarded reactions. Representatives from moderate unions noted they are waiting to see how the promises translate into practical reality. Meanwhile, more radical student factions have maintained that continuous pressure and massive financial commitments are necessary to satisfy their demands, signaling that the unrest may persist despite the government's initial concessions.