Geffray offers €4bn school repair loan as unions vow to keep protesting

The French government announced a €4 billion loan to regional authorities on Monday to repair school buildings, a move intended to address the demands of the largest youth protest movement in years. Education Minister Édouard Geffray stated that some schools were "not fit" for teaching due to collapsing ceilings, mold, and broken facilities. The funds will begin repairs immediately, aiming to fix infrastructure that has left students without adequate chairs or functioning windows.

Pierre Sourzat of the student union Les Lycéens rejected the package as insufficient. Speaking to France Info television, Sourzat described the situation as a "power struggle" and insisted that the group needed to call for continued mobilization. "We want measures, not half measures," he said. The union urged high school pupils to keep barricading their schools and participate in street protests to ensure the government meets its maximum demands.

The proposals come more than five weeks after high school blockades began in September. The movement has been joined by trade unions and cost-of-living protesters in regular Saturday demonstrations. In addition to the repair loan, Geffray announced that class sizes for 15-year-olds in the first year of high school would be capped at 28 in 50% of schools in the lowest-income areas. This cap will extend to all high schools next year, accompanied by the creation of more teaching posts and a review of the baccalaureate system.

Higher education reforms are also part of the package. The university application platform, Parcoursup, will be changed in 2027 and replaced by a new system in 2028. Philippe Baptiste, the higher education minister, said 15,000 extra student places would be created, focusing on vocational courses. Parliament will hold a debate on these university issues on Wednesday.

Louis Letoublon, who met with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on behalf of Les Lycéens, said the government was "afraid" and knew it must listen. "Not all our demands were met," Letoublon stated. "We’ll go on for as long as it takes." Baptiste added that the government’s door was "open" for further discussions.

Security concerns remain high following the worst day of violence in years on 17 October, which saw looting, fires, and vandalism. Authorities have admitted to security and intelligence failures that allowed the clashes to escalate. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that ultra-right groups arrived in "organised formations" in cities like Nice and Montpellier at the weekend, targeting protesters. Eleven suspects are set to face charges for these actions.

President Emmanuel Macron visited Marseille on Monday and warned that the next major demonstration on 31 October would be a "day of risk." He noted that it was "not normal" for the country to be in such turmoil six months before a presidential election. Macron steps down next spring, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen currently leading the polls.