Thousands of students protest for better schools in France
Oct. 12, 2026
Q: Thousands of students – joined by parents, teachers, and others – protested across France last week against dilapidated schools and teacher shortages. About 71,500 people took to the streets on Thursday. Where is France?
Circle the area on this map
Q: The French government said Thursday it is hiring 3,000 teachers to fill staffing gaps, but students vowed to continue protesting for school repairs and to end inequality between schools in richer and poorer areas. Where did massive student-led protests force a high-ranking government official to quit in July?
A. Bangladesh
B. India
C. Indonesia
D. Serbia
Q: French education spending has lagged as the government struggles to rein in its public debt. France’s $4 trillion national debt is 118.4% of its annual gross domestic product (GDP). Which nation’s debt rate is higher?
A. Japan
B. Singapore
C. United States
D. All of the above
Q: Education spending doesn’t necessarily determine how well students perform on international tests covering science, math, and reading. Which nation’s 15-year-olds scored the highest on the exams while it spent less of its GDP on education?
A. China
B. Japan
C. Singapore
D. United States
Q: French schools needing the most repairs and facing the biggest teacher shortages are in low-income areas. On income inequality, France ranked near the middle of a 2025 list from the World Bank. Which nation had the most equal distribution of income?
A. Colombia
B. India
C. Malaysia
D. Norway
Answers for this quiz: Click here