France Education Reform: €5B School Renovation Explained

France has announced a sweeping France education reform package worth €5 billion to renovate crumbling school buildings and universities, following weeks of mass student protests over overcrowded classrooms, chronic teacher shortages and decaying infrastructure. Education ministers Geffray and Baptiste unveiled the measures on 26 October 2026 after meeting Prime Minister Lecornu and representatives of secondary schools and universities.

What is behind the French education protests?

The France student protest movement began in mid-September with high-school blockades and spread from working-class suburbs of Paris to Lille, Lyon, Marseille and beyond. Students have protested against 1960s-era school buildings in poor condition, classes that sometimes exceed 35 pupils, a nationwide teacher shortage and gruelling workloads. President Macron said the government would respond to the demonstrators' “legitimate demands”.

France education reform: key measures announced

€5 billion school renovation fund

The centrepiece of the France education reform is €5 billion for the renovation of school buildings and universities. The money will be made available to local authorities, mainly in the form of loans, and is intended to address the crumbling infrastructure highlighted by protesters.

Smaller class sizes in la Seconde

For secondary schools, the government is introducing a maximum of 28 students per class in la Seconde, the first year of upper secondary education. In cities, classes in this year group currently often contain more than 35 pupils. To make smaller classes possible, 500 additional teachers will be recruited.

15,000 extra higher education places

The ministers also promised 15,000 additional places in higher education, giving more school-leavers the chance to study. The move follows complaints that limited capacity has locked many students out of their preferred courses.

Parcoursup overhaul by 2028

France's Parcoursup university admissions system will be made more transparent and replaced by 2028. Students have criticised unclear selection criteria and unequal opportunities, saying the current algorithm prevents them from following their desired studies. The government says the replacement system will address those concerns.

What happens next? Protests and security

Student unions said they welcomed the announced measures but insisted they were not enough. “Not everything has been resolved yet,” one union representative said, calling for renewed demonstrations on Saturday. The education protests have merged into a broader movement involving trade unions, farmers and the yellow vest movement protests.

Macron has warned that Saturday will again be a “risky day”, along with 5 November, when unions have planned a national day of action. He said a state of emergency has not been ruled out, which would allow preventive searches and force demonstrators to stay home. After riots, looting and arson on 17 October caused hundreds of millions of euros in damage and more than 2,300 arrests, authorities deployed 70,000 police officers last weekend and imposed curfews in several places.

Education ministers Geffray and Baptiste insisted the plans will actually be implemented. “These are not empty promises,” they said, expressing hope that the measures would help restore calm.

FAQ: France education reform explained

How much is France spending on school renovation?

France is making €5 billion available for the renovation of school buildings and universities, mainly as loans to local authorities.

What is Parcoursup and why is it being changed?

Parcoursup is France's online higher-education admissions platform. It is being changed because students say its selection criteria are opaque and unequal; the government promises a more transparent replacement by 2028.

Why are French students protesting?

Students are protesting overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, high workloads, decaying school buildings and limited access to higher education.

Will French class sizes really be reduced?

The government has set a maximum of 28 pupils per class in la Seconde and plans to hire 500 extra teachers, although student unions say the measures do not go far enough.