France's classrooms swell as student numbers outpace teachers and facilities

French students have taken to the streets not to contest a specific reform but to demand relief from daily hardships, including overcrowded classrooms, absent teachers, demanding schedules and outdated school infrastructure. Recent statistics reveal that average class sizes have been climbing since the mid-2010s, reaching roughly 30.5 students in public schools and 29.3 in state-subsidised private schools. This increase stems from a dual pressure: a deficit of teaching staff and a wave of pupils born between 2006 and 2014 who are now progressing through secondary education.

The data underscore a broader challenge for the French education system, suggesting that demographic trends and staffing shortfalls are converging to strain resources and learning conditions. Observers argue that addressing these issues will require targeted investment in teacher recruitment and school modernization.