Student opens fire at Aubagne middle school, injures principal and teacher
A 14-year-old student shot and injured a school principal and teacher in Aubagne.
Event / Conflict
Ongoing protests and labor actions in French education system over staffing shortages, teacher recruitment reforms, and working conditions
2026-10-02 to 2026-10-28 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 2 Oct, 06:17 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
On the afternoon of 26 October 2026, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu received high school student organisations and then student organisations at Matignon, the seat of the French government.
On Friday 23 October 2026, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government would move on Parcoursup, citing remarks about the platform's transparency and humanisation. He said he would present a response plan covering the number of teachers, the number of pupils per class in lycées and the condition of school buildings.
When the online platform on the high school crisis closed on Friday 23 October 2026, it had received approximately 100,000 contributions.
A new day of action called by the gilets jaunes movement is scheduled for Saturday 31 October 2026 in France.
On 26 October 2026, Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste announced a significant evolution of Parcoursup before 2028. The measures include the introduction of orientation support starting in seconde, the year of high school at which pupils begin their upper secondary track.
In the late part of the week before 26 October 2026, President Emmanuel Macron received high school student organisations and stated openness to a deep overhaul (refonte en profondeur) of Parcoursup, the university admissions platform.
The Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region allocates 100 million euros per year to its lycée buildings. The global operating allowance for lycées rose from 30 million euros in 2021 to a planned 46 million euros in 2027.
On Sunday 25 October 2026, university presidents stated that abolishing Parcoursup is not a magic solution. They argued that the platform should not be confused with the deliberate reduction of resources, which they said has created strong tensions for entry into higher education.
On 26 October 2026, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a reform of the Parcoursup platform, with adjustments planned for 2027 and replacement of the platform in 2028.
State funding for apprenticeships that passes through regions was cut by 50% in 2025, reduced by a further 50% by a decree in February 2026, and then reduced by 90% of the remaining amount in May 2026.
On Monday 26 October 2026, Education Minister Édouard Geffray and Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste were scheduled to present the government's conclusions on the student and pupil mobilisation at a late-afternoon press conference.
On 17 October 2026, large demonstrations took place across France. Incidents of vandalism and looting occurred at the margins of the demonstrations.
The Terrade school of hairdressing and beauty in Lons-le-Saunier closed on 1 July 2026, citing a difficult economic context and a sharp drop in student numbers.
On Saturday 24 October 2026, several hundred thousand people took part in processions across France. The marches were reported as largely peaceful, without major incidents.
On 5 October 2026, the French government opened an online platform to collect input on the high school crisis. The platform was used to gather proposals before the government announced measures.
Blockades of schools and universities began a mobilisation of high school pupils and students in France that has continued for about five weeks. Protesters cite Parcoursup, classroom overcrowding, teacher shortages, long school days and building conditions.
On 21 October 2026, Willy Bourgeois, Socialist Party vice-president of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté regional council responsible for lycées, called for Parcoursup to be abolished or at least its current form ended, and proposed a public consultation on what to keep and what to remove.
The Union étudiante, La Fage, UNEF and the Union syndicale lycéenne (USL) have demanded ten main measures estimated at 10 billion euros. The demands include ending selection at university, creating 250,000 university places and reforming scholarships.
A national day of strikes and demonstrations, called by employee unions, is scheduled for 5 November 2026 in France.
The government announced that the student grant (bourse étudiante) will be indexed to inflation.
A 14-year-old student shot and injured a school principal and teacher in Aubagne.
Macron calls for peaceful protests as education sector violence escalates, with eight staff injuries reported.
French government deployed 3,000 teachers and launched student consultation platform collecting 86,000 reform demands amid blockade mitigation efforts.
Greta Thunberg joins French school protests, expanding movement's celebrity backing and visibility.
Eight unions strike October 13 as government announces budget amendments; students reject response.
French government deploys 3,000 teachers and appeals for peace after protest injuries surge.
France mobilizes 130,000-200,000 protesters across education sector in fifth nationwide action on October 13.
14-year-old student shoots principal and teacher at Aubagne school in southern France.
French schools stabilize at 98.3% operational despite protests; October holidays begin as government-student dialogue continues.
French government deploys 3,000 teachers and proposes budget amendments to address ongoing education protests.
France expects 130,000-200,000 demonstrators on October 13 as students demand education reforms and increased funding.
Students demand exactly 10 billion euros to fund French school infrastructure improvements.