The mass student-led movement emerged over a range of issues including long school days, overcrowded schools, teacher absences.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the hard left France Unbowed party took to X on Thursday to declare "the Bastille has been retaken", after students staged demonstrations across the country — including a major rally at Paris' infamous Place de la Bastille.
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Thursday's major protests were part of the student-led movement which began on 17 September in the suburbs of Paris gradually developed into a broader campaign addressing issues including long school days, overcrowded schools, teacher absences.
The mass gathering which took place at the place de la Bastille started off peacefully, but clashes with the police later erupted, with tear gas and a water cannon fired at protesters.
Meanwhile, Mélenchon wrote "powerful demonstration by the youth who carry their demands in the most beautiful way possible! Immense pride. See you on Tuesday, October 13, at the call of the youth unions and workers."
The storming of the Bastille in 1789 marked a major turning point in the French Revolution and became a symbol of the people’s resistance to royal authority.
Mélenchon's party and his allies have been accused of stoking unrest and manipulating young people for political gain by their opponents. He has stated that despite the fact that his party supports the protest, they were independently organised by students.
Police have made more than 6,600 arrests since late September, when students, most of them under 18, began protesting to demand more education funding, according to the Interior Ministry. The Education Ministry said 375 schools were fully or partially closed Thursday.