France pledges admissions overhaul and education funding to ease protests

Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste announced on Monday that the admissions system would undergo “substantial change” next year before being replaced in 2028.

The government also pledged smaller classes, additional teaching posts, higher student grants and billions of euros for school and university renovations.

The measures address grievances that sparked high school blockades in mid-September. But workers demanding relief from rising living costs have since joined the movement, broadening the challenge facing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's government.

Student representatives welcomed parts of the package after meeting Lecornu on Monday, while urging protesters to keep mobilising.

“We have managed to address some of the students' demands,” said Nathanaël Combary of Renouveau Lycéen. “I emphasise the term 'some'".

Clément Vieillot, of Mouvement Cachan 94, said students had received “crumbs”, contrasting their demand for 250,000 more university places with the government's pledge of 15,000 additional higher education places.

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Transparent admissions system

Parcoursup, which handles applications to universities and other higher education institutions, has become a central target of protests over unclear selection criteria and unequal access to courses.

A record 1.05 million people applied through the platform this year, according to the Higher Education Ministry.

For 2027, institutions would publish more detailed selection criteria, while the platform would provide explanations alongside rejections. Applicants could also request the reasons behind admissions decisions.

A committee involving students and teachers is due to recommend changes by the end of November. The government said it would legislate if necessary.

The replacement system remains undesigned, and its 2028 launch would leave delivery to the government succeeding President Emmanuel Macron after next year's election.

Ministers promised 15,000 additional higher education places over 2027 and 2028, mainly in vocational and technical programmes. Student grants would rise with inflation from the start of the 2027 academic year.

Some first-year high school classes would be capped at 28 pupils from 2027, starting in disadvantaged schools. Planned cuts to secondary teaching positions would be cancelled and 500 additional jobs created.

Up to €4 billion in low-interest loans would support school renovations through 2030, alongside a separate €1 billion university renovation programme running through 2029. Demonstrators in Paris during the march on 24 October 2026.

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Pressure to sustain the protests

The announcements followed two weekends of mass demonstrations, including widespread rioting and looting on 17 October.

Hundreds of thousands marched peacefully, but groups also attacked public buildings and clashed with police. Protesters briefly stormed Marseille's city hall, while fire destroyed the roof and clock tower of Limoges' town hall.

About 2,400 people were arrested in connection with those demonstrations.

Saturday's rallies saw less violence. Authorities estimated turnout at 410,000, while organisers put it at nearly 800,000.

Some 70,000 police officers and gendarmes were deployed. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Monday that 1,435 people had been arrested nationwide in connection with the latest protests.

Visiting Marseille on Monday, Macron promised “concrete measures”.

“I have asked the government to address the legitimate demands at the root of this protest movement,” he said.

His government faces criticism over its response to students' grievances. Police tactics are also under scrutiny, including riot control weapons blamed for life-changing injuries to some teenagers.

Further demonstrations are planned, leaving ministers under pressure to show that promises extending into the next presidency will deliver improvements.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who leads presidential election polling, has sought to capitalise on the unrest, presenting her National Rally party as a force for law and order.

The government's room for manoeuvre remains limited as demands for stronger public services and help with living costs collide with record poverty and public debt.

(with newswires)