PARIS: Student-led protests saw 71,500 people take to the streets across France on Thursday, with police detaining more than 500 people, the interior ministry said.

Some 55,000 of the protesters led actions outside schools, while the others joined marches, it added.

High school pupils across France launched a fresh day of protests, des­pite government attempts to ease a crisis that has rocked the country for days.

Children have blocked entrances to hundreds of high schools across the country for more than a week, with squads of riot police deployed to control the situation — occasionally resulting in violent clashes. High school and university students urged mobilisation on Thursday, with rallies in Paris and other major cities, and national education unions calling a general strike.

While the rallies have been largely peaceful, some demonstrators have started fires and vandalised bus shelters, and police have used tear gas, batons and blast balls — with rights groups and the children accusing officers of using disproportionate force.

In a televised address on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu promised a plan to respond to the crisis by the end of October. Although he denied security forces had been given “orders to confront” the young people, many were unconvinced.

“We don’t want words, we want action,” 17-year-old Camille told AFP from a student march in the western city of Nantes.

In Paris, several marches made their way through the streets of the capital, while thousands gathered at the Place de la Bastille.

Crowds of students climbed the famous Bastille monument, some waving the French flag and singing the national anthem.

Student ‘dialogue’

As the government tried to adopt a conciliatory tone, Education Minister Edouard Geffray promised to present an “emergency plan” on teacher replacements within “a few hours or a few days”.

A fresh meeting between the main student associations with Geffray and Baptiste started Thursday afternoon.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2026