- The almost normal return to school envisaged by Jean-Michel Blanquer in July no longer seems assured, due to the increase in coronavirus cases this summer.
- Unions of teachers and associations of parents of pupils are calling for stricter measures to prevent the spread of the virus in schools.
Will Jean-Michel Blanquer announce this Thursday evening, at the JT of France 2, a tightening of health instructions in establishments for the start of the school year? The question is on everyone's lips, especially as several unions have increased the pressure in recent days on this subject.
Because the health protocol established in July provides for a return to class with health measures, all quite limited. Thus, in this text, wearing a mask is compulsory only "for adults and students over 11 when the rules of distance cannot be observed in confined spaces". And it is no longer even compulsory for nursery school staff. Exit also the measure of physical distancing when the students are outside, as well as the instructions to avoid too much mixing of the students in the canteen or at recess.
Should the wearing of a mask be imposed everywhere?
Except that since July, the epidemiological situation in France has changed. The number of new positive cases for Covid-19 has increased by 3,776in 24 hours, bringing the total of cases to 16,747 over the week, according to figures released Wednesday by the Directorate General of Health (DGS). Under these conditions, it is impossible to stick to the initial plan, according to several teachers' unions. "Since July, the contamination of young people has accelerated, which invites to toughen certain measures," said Frédérique Rolet, secretary general of Snes-FSU.
First decision which is essential, according to her: “Make the wearing of the mask obligatory in the colleges, high schools and CIO. Because we already know that physical distancing will not be possible in many establishments ”. Especially since according to Frédérique Rolet, "it will be impossible to drastically reduce the mixing of students, because the high school reform significantly increases the phenomenon, with students who follow different options and specialties". Ditto for Philippe Vincent, general secretary of SNPDEN, the first union of heads of establishments: "Wearing a mask generally in the classroom or in the courtyard would be a simple measure to adopt and which would be consistent with what is happening in the workplace. rest of society, ”he said. The same vigilance is required for the first degree: "For all adults present in schools, it is also necessary to follow the recommendations of the High Council of Public Health, which recommends wearing a mask in all closed public and private collective environments. ", Estimates the Snuipp-FSU in an open letter published on Thursday.
Small-group lessons, an option being considered
Frédérique Rolet also believes that the National Education should provide free masks to all students and all staff under its responsibility. Philippe Vincent qualifies the proposal and suggests that "the masks be provided as a priority to families in greatest difficulty".
For the FCPE, the best would be to multiply the lessons in small groups. It therefore calls for "the creation of positions and the provision of premises in sufficient number to accommodate students in smaller groups, and a pool of sufficient replacements" in a press release released Wednesday. An opinion shared by the Snes-FSU: "Education assistants should be recruited to duplicate certain lessons", suggests Frédérique Rolet. On this point as on others, Philippe Vincent believes that it would be better to “leave a local adaptation capacity of the instructions, according to the epidemiological situation on site, the size of the establishments”.
Better test people at risk
There are also many voices in favor of strengthening the tests. “You have to systematically test all contacts if students or staff are positive,” says Frédérique Rolet. The first federation of parents of pupils is also asking for "the possibility of taking PCR screening tests for staff working in schools and educational establishments and pupils (after agreement of the family)". For their part, the associations of pediatricians ask to give preference to saliva tests to detect Covid-19 in children, because the unpleasant aspect of nasopharyngeal swabs can lead to "refusals of children and / or parents", declare- them in an open letter published Wednesday. They also suggest strengthening vaccination against other diseases (influenza, rotavirus, etc.) to "reduce the frequency" of suspected cases of Covid-19 and avoid congestion in hospitals.
One thing already seems certain: whatever the epidemiological situation at the moment, the minister does not want to give up the face-to-face schooling of French students, who have already sufficiently paid the price of confinement.
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