The high school and university student mobilization carries on! Following demonstrations on October 6 and 8, a new day of strikes and protests is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2026 across France. In Paris, the march is set to leave from Place d’Italie at 2:00 p.m.
But beyond the high schools, the movement could also disrupt the operation of primary and secondary schools as well as universities, several teachers' unions having officially asked their members to walk off the job. The FSU, the UNSA Éducation, the FNEC FP-FO, the CFDT Éducation Formation Recherche Publiques, the CGT Éduc'action and SUD Éducation are calling for mobilisation, notably through a strike.
Their revendications focus on staffing levels, substitutes for absent teachers, salaries, working conditions, and the renovation of school buildings.
Yes, some primary schools could face disruption on Tuesday, October 13. The FSU-SNUipp, the major union for primary education, is calling on teachers to join this new day of strikes in solidarity with high school students and university students. In Île-de-France, departmental sections have confirmed their participation, notably in Seine-et-Marne (77), in the Val-de-Marne (94) and in the Val-d'Oise (95).
Strikes can mean some teachers are unavailable and, depending on the school, reception may be disrupted. That does not necessarily mean all schools will close. When the legal conditions are met, a minimum service to welcome students must be organized for pupils in public schools. Families are urged to check notices from their school or town hall to learn the planned reception arrangements.
The middle schools could also be disrupted, even though high-school students remain the driving force behind the movement. Calls for strikes target secondary-education staff, notably teachers represented by the SNES-FSU and the other unions within the inter-union coalition.
In middle schools, the impact will hinge on the engagement of the teaching staff: some classes could be canceled or reorganized, without automatically shutting down schools. On the eve of the protests, no official tally yet exists to determine how many middle schools will actually be affected in Paris and the Île-de-France region.
Yes, students are also set to protest on Tuesday, October 13. The Student Union announced a new national mobilisation, while several unions de l'enseignement supérieur support the movement. In universities, disruptions can take various forms: general assemblies, demonstrations, staff strikes, occasional blockades or changes to classes.
However, there is no plan for a blanket shutdown of Parisian universities at this stage. The situation could vary by campus and by local decisions. Students at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris 8 Vincennes–Saint-Denis, Paris Nanterre, and other Île-de-France institutions should therefore check their university’s announcements before heading out. The mention of these institutions does not mean they will necessarily be blocked or closed on Tuesday.
The movement traces its origins to protests over high school study conditions: heavy timetables, overcrowded classes, shortages of teachers and staff, and dilapidated buildings, along with criticisms of Parcoursup and the lycée reforms. 13 October marks a new milestone in the mobilization, with calls to protest and strike in several French cities.
In Paris, the announced rally at Place d’Italie is set to bring together high school students, college and university students, and Education Ministry staff. The exact count of high schools closed administratively, blockaded, or simply disrupted can only be determined from information released by the schools, the regional education authorities, and the ministry.
For families as for students, the main thing to watch remains local: a national call to strike does not automatically mean the closure of your institution. The first concrete details on the disruptions are expected to be available Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
October 13 protest: which high schools and universities are taking part in Paris and Île-de-France?
A new day of high school and student protests is planned for Tuesday, October 13, 2026. In Paris and the Île-de-France region, several institutions have experienced blockades or closures during earlier demonstrations. Which high schools and universities could be affected this time? A briefing on what is known on the eve of the mobilization. [Read more]
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October 13 protest: which high schools and universities are taking part in Paris and Île-de-France?
