Masks for all teachers, middle and high school students and a health protocol that could harden in some regions: Jean-Michel Blanquer detailed on Wednesday the terms of a “special” return against a background of coronavirus.
Rarely, the back-to-school press conference of the Minister of Education will have been so expected, in view of the persistent questions looming, in the midst of the epidemic's rebound.
Obsolete protocol versus no adjustment variable
One thing is certain: the start of the school year will take place next Tuesday, for some 12.4 million French students, the day after that of the teachers. Rejecting his postponement last week, demanded by unions, the minister insists that education is "not an adjustment variable".
"Nothing would be worse (…) than not to educate your child", added Prime Minister Jean Castex on Wednesday, assuring that the government was "ready". To allow everyone to return to school in September, a health protocol published in July before the epidemic rebound had relaxed the rules put in place at the time of deconfinement. A protocol that has become obsolete in the eyes of the unions, due to the new outbreak of the virus.
End of the obligation of physical distancing
This Wednesday, Jean-Michel Blanquer announced that all teachers should wear a mask, including in kindergarten. A new step after the announcement last week of the wearing of the compulsory mask for students from middle school. Since then, the debate has swelled over their free access. The executive, despite urgent appeals from the oppositions, decided not to provide free masks to students, except for the most precarious.
For the rest, the sanitary protocol "is simple and clear, it is not intended in its main principles to vary", ruled the minister. “One of the strictest in Europe, it allows us to have the most normal possible return to school. “Physical distancing will no longer be compulsory when it is not materially possible, as will the limitation of mixing between classes and groups of students, simply“ recommended ”.
Hybrid ready
"There may be, depending on the evolution of the situation, adaptations", repeated the Minister, referring to measures "targeted" on such and such a territory such as Ile-de-France or Bouches-du- Rhône after decision of rectors, prefects and regional health authorities. For example, he mentioned the possibility of limiting the mixing of pupils in these regions.
"If there were to be hybrid measures" (distance education combined with physical education) or "containment, we are ready", also said the minister. But for this return, "we are not there", he assured.
Should we mix the students?
Other protocols corresponding to a worsening of the situation have been drafted, but they are not disseminated for the moment, so as not to "bring confusion", he explained. Before the press conference, unions regretted the persistent vagueness on the health conditions of the start of the school year.
Among the question marks: can the pupils be mixed up during recess, class entry and exit or in the canteen? To avoid contagions within a school, the Snuipp-FSU, the first primary school union, pleaded so that the groups could not meet.
Skeptical unions
"On a number of subjects, we must leave great leeway to local actors," the Minister of Education replied on Wednesday, arguing for example that the playgrounds are very different from one establishment to another. .
"A week before the start of the school year, we are not yet reassured about the existence of a stable health framework", regretted this Wednesday morning Stéphane Crochet, secretary general of SE Unsa.
Let's talk little, let's talk about money
One of the main questions concerns the procedure to follow in the event of a suspicion of Covid-19 in a school. The minister assures us that tests will be carried out to “go back up the chain of contamination and take isolation measures”. On Wednesday, he also spoke of "random testing".
Not wanting to limit the back-to-school subjects to the health context, he also insisted on "strengthening educational support" for students in difficulty, launching new experiments, such as a reading method affecting 500 classes, continuation of the implementation of the reform of the lycée and the vocational pathway or the deployment of the universal national service.
He announced the payment of an exceptional bonus of 450 euros by the end of the year for school directors and the continuation of discussions to increase the remuneration of teachers.
Health
Coronavirus: Nearly 5,500 cases in France in 24 hours, new record since May
Economy
Recovery plan, wearing a mask, partial unemployment… In front of the Medef, Jean Castex wanted to reassure the bosses
- Covid 19
- Society
- Coronavirus
- Teacher
- Back to school
- Jean-Michel Blanquer