France to scrap Parcoursup in 2028 after student unrest

French university applicants will no longer use the Parcoursup platform starting in 2028. The government made this announcement on Monday to address anger that has built up over weeks of student protests. Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste said the system will undergo substantial changes in 2027 before its full replacement.

Parcoursup currently handles applications to French universities and other higher education courses. Students have criticized the platform for unclear selection criteria and unequal access to preferred courses. These complaints became a central focus of the ongoing demonstrations.

The government response follows a period of intense unrest. On October 17, protests over school funding and rising living costs turned violent. Demonstrators set fires and looted shops in several cities. In Marseille, protesters stormed City Hall and clashed with police. Another nationwide demonstration took place on Saturday with less violence. Authorities estimated the turnout at more than 400,000 people, while organizers claimed nearly 800,000 attended.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu met with student representatives on Monday prior to the announcement. Two high school student groups said they welcomed some concessions but called for protests to continue. President Emmanuel Macron visited Marseille earlier in the day. He promised concrete measures to address the demands that sparked the movement. Macron stated, “I have asked the government to address the legitimate demands at the root of this protest movement.”

The protests began in mid-September with high school blockades. Students have demanded better learning conditions, including smaller classes and changes to teaching hours. They also want more teachers to cover staff absences and school renovations. On October 8, the government announced the deployment of 3,000 additional substitute teachers to struggling high schools.

The government faces criticism for its handling of the grievances since the blockades started. Police riot-control weapons have drawn scrutiny after some teenagers suffered life-changing injuries. The push for better-resourced schools in poorer communities comes as France deals with record poverty and record public debt. The new admissions timeline and teacher hires aim to stabilize the situation after the recent weeks of unrest.