Authorities also announced a government loan of €4bn to regional authorities to begin repairs on damaged buildings. Furthermore, the government stated that the university application platform Parcoursup, described as opaque and unfair, will be changed in 2027 and replaced by a new system in 2028.
Curfews have been put in place in certain cities, alongside protest bans, and protest routes were pushed to the outskirts of cities on Saturday when demonstrations passed off largely peacefully.
High school pupils had originally demanded an end to teacher and staff shortages, alongside repairs to decrepit school buildings plagued by collapsing ceilings, mold, broken toilets, a lack of chairs, and windows that failed to shut.
The state response has included strict security measures. Hundreds of children have been arrested and held in police custody, while several children have been maimed or seriously injured in the protests, allegedly by police explosive weapons.
French high school protest leaders urged pupils to keep barricading their schools following a wave of demonstrations over school conditions and reforms.
The student movement has intersected with broader civil unrest, joining trade unions and cost-of-living protesters in regular mass street demonstrations on Saturdays.
In response to the demonstrations, the government told high school student representatives that it would cap some class sizes and review the university application system.
The ongoing student mobilization comes as the government faces mounting unrest, prompting authorities to increase security measures and restrict demonstrations after France experienced its worst day of violence in years on 17 October, marked by looting, fires, and vandalism of state buildings.