Education Minister Edouard Geffray reported 119 injuries among students and school staff as protests over dilapidated facilities and teacher shortages grew more violent on Wednesday. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that 625 people were detained that day, following 440 arrests on Tuesday, with the majority being minors. The unrest, which has spread to 356 high schools, included seven separate incidents where demonstrators threw hydrochloric acid at law enforcement officers.

President Emmanuel Macron, speaking from Madrid, criticized the blockades and the burning of rubbish bins, asserting that high schools are intended for knowledge rather than disorder. Students have demanded smaller class sizes and better equipment, with some citing rat infestations and extreme temperature swings in classrooms. These demonstrations coincide with nationwide civil servant strikes and planned budget cuts for 2027 ahead of next year's presidential election.