France offers teachers, university places and €4bn loans after student protests

France has moved to calm nationwide student protests by promising new teaching posts, expanded university capacity and billions of euros in loans for school renovation projects.

The government said first-year classes in public high schools would be capped at 28 pupils, a reduction from current averages of more than 30. The measure is one of the first significant concessions announced in response to the demonstrations.

Officials also plan to create 15,000 additional university places, addressing pressure on higher education admissions as students demand improved access and conditions.

Alongside the staffing and admissions measures, the government said it would make €4bn, equivalent to about $4.4bn, available in loans to local authorities for refurbishing schools.

The package is intended to show that the government is responding to student concerns over overcrowding and the condition of education facilities. It marks a shift from managing the protests to offering concrete changes in schools and universities.

No further details were provided on the timing of the new teacher posts or how the extra university places would be distributed. The measures announced so far focus on capacity, class sizes and infrastructure funding.