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Greta Thunberg joins school protests in Saint-Denis over education conditions

Nationwide · pinned on Saint-Denis, France · since Sep 15, 2026

Is it still on?

YESDay 29 and counting, since Sep 15.

Last report · checked

Summary in three lines

Why they are protesting
Students are protesting against crumbling school buildings, teacher shortages, overcrowded classes, and poor sanitation.
What they want
They demand better school facilities, more teachers, reduced class sizes, and shorter school days.
What changed
Oct 13: Activist Greta Thunberg joined students at Paul Eluard High School in Saint-Denis as nationwide protests continued.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • More teachers
  • Better school facilities
  • Shorter school days
  • Solutions for overcrowded classes

Organised by: La France Insoumise

What authorities say

Riot police deployed tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades, batons, and charges to disperse crowds, according to news sources. The Interior Ministry reported thousands of arrests and tens of thousands of participants.2345

The numbers

Only figures a source states, with who said it. Estimates often differ.

Crowd
161,500
161,500 people marched in demonstrations across the country, including 41,500 in Paris, according to the Interior…45
Arrests / detentions
6,800+
more than 6,800 people, most of them teenagers, have been arrested35
Injuries
1,000+
More than 1,000 police officers, educators and students have been injured3

The full story

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg joined demonstrating high school students outside Paul Eluard High School in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. The protests, which began in mid-September in working-class and immigrant neighborhoods, focus on chronic teacher shortages, overcrowded classes, deteriorating facilities, and poor sanitation in French schools. The nationwide movement has seen blockades, school closures, and clashes with police, with the Interior Ministry estimating 161,500 marchers across France on Tuesday. Authorities have deployed riot police who used tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades, and batons. Government critics, including far-left party La France Insoumise, accused authorities of excessive force, while other critics attributed the unrest to political motives or broader social tensions.

Timeline

  1. Activist Greta Thunberg joined high school students protesting at Paul Eluard High School in Saint-Denis.2345

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