High school movement: between resuming classes and maintaining blockades, mobilization at a pivotal moment after the holidays

On November 2 and 3, the French government and student representatives assessed the state of high school protests following a two-week break. The Ministry of National Education reported 40 high schools blocked on Monday and 48 on Tuesday, while student unions claimed significantly higher numbers. The Education Minister described the protests as a residual phenomenon that harms students. Discrepancies in reported figures highlight tensions between official sources and unions, with the SNDPEN-Unsa reporting 35 blocked schools in Paris alone. The student union claimed 500 blockages nationwide. Similar discrepancies were noted in higher education, with the Ministry reporting 51 disrupted institutions compared to the union's claim of half being affected.