On Monday, the French government announced its intention to replace the national online university admissions platform by 2028. The initiative aims to address students’ concerns, who have engaged in extensive protests over education and living costs.
Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste said the current platform would undergo significant changes in 2027, leading up to its complete replacement the following year. The existing system, known as Parcoursup, processes applications for universities and other higher education programmes. It has come under scrutiny, with students raising concerns about unclear selection criteria and inequitable access to their desired courses.
Two student organisations expressed appreciation for certain government concessions while maintaining their call for continued protests. Their representatives spoke after meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, ahead of the ministers’ press conference. This announcement follows significant unrest in France on 17 October, when demonstrations over school funding and rising living costs turned violent, sparking rioting and looting across various cities. Protesters set fires, entered public buildings—including Marseille’s City Hall—looted shops, and clashed with law enforcement.
A subsequent round of nationwide demonstrations on Saturday saw less violence. Government estimates indicated that over 400,000 individuals participated in these protests, while organisers claimed the number could be nearly 800,000. On Monday, Lecornu and other government officials held discussions with representatives of high school and university students before making the announcements.
Earlier in the day, French President Emmanuel Macron committed to implementing “concrete measures” to meet students’ demands during a visit to the southern port city of Marseille. He stated, “I have asked the government to address the legitimate concerns that underpin this protest movement.”
Macron and his administration have faced criticism for failing to adequately address students’ grievances since high school blockades began in mid-September. The protests have resulted in significant arrests and raised questions about police riot-control measures, which have reportedly led to severe injuries for some teenagers.
Students have articulated demands for improved learning conditions, including more teachers to cover staff absences, renovated school facilities, adjusted teaching hours, and smaller class sizes.
On 8 October, the government announced plans to deploy 3,000 additional substitute teachers to support high schools facing challenges. Calls for enhanced educational resources, particularly in disadvantaged communities, come as France grapples with record poverty levels and significant public debt.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
