France education minister announces closure of over 400 schools due to protests

Mass closure of educational institutions

French Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced that more than 400 schools and other educational institutions will be closed across the country on 2 October 2026. This measure is a consequence of student protests, which began due to dissatisfaction with the situation in the education sector and escalated into violent clashes in some regions.

Geffray made the statement late on the evening of 1 October, Reuters reports.

Intelligence services' version and politicians' reaction

According to a source close to Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, intelligence services reported at a crisis meeting on Thursday that the initiators of the protest movement were far-left politicians. Specifically, members of the "Unbowed France" party were mentioned.

However, Louis Boyer, a deputy from this political force, categorically denied these claims in interviews with French television channels.