How will the start of the school year go against a background of Covid for the students?

University of Nice on 09/10/2020.

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• So even if the coronavirus epidemic is currently rebounding in our country, higher education institutions are not spared.

• Apart from wearing a mask, compulsory in all establishments, each university or school has taken specific measures to curb the spread of the virus.

• But it will be difficult to control the behavior of students outside their institutions, as private parties are singled out.

"Youth is paying a heavy price for the health crisis," the Minister of Higher Education, Frédérique Vidal, acknowledged on Tuesday at her back-to-school press conference.

But according to her, no question of speaking of a “sacrificed generation”.

So even if the coronavirus epidemic is currently rebounding in our country, the ministry and higher education establishments have put in place measures to contain the risk.

Not without difficulties.

takes stock while the pre-entry has already taken place for the first years.

How many establishments are closed?

"In ten sites, cases of coronavirus are reported," Frederique Vidal announced on Tuesday.

According to the student union Unef, these are 13 establishments: Sciences Po Reims, Ecole des Mines de Nancy, Ecole Centrale in Lyon, ICAM in Toulouse, University of Nantes in 2nd and 3rd year of medicine, Sciences Po Lille, Catholic University of Lille, IAE Marseille, University of Amiens, University of Rennes, University of Nice, Poitiers and Bordeaux.

These decisions to close a campus or an entire establishment were jointly decided by the rector, the ARS, the prefect and the head of the establishment.

What sanitary measures are taken in the establishments?

Wearing a mask is compulsory in all circumstances in higher education schools and universities for the start of the school year.

A circular sent to university presidents and school directors sets out the instructions.

And four scenarios are planned according to local health situations.

In the first, when there is no cluster, the start of the school year takes place in the normal way, all classes being maintained, with the students masked and with physical distancing "whenever possible", recalled Frédérique. Vidal.

The second provides for both the obligation of physical distancing in addition to the wearing of masks among students.

The third situation imposes a hybridization of teaching, with face-to-face and distance courses.

The fourth is based on total distance education.

The ministry has earmarked 35 million euros to help higher education establishments design online courses.

But the universities being autonomous, each has found its own solutions to promote student security.

“It is the heads of establishments who make the decisions,” said Frédérique Vidal.

"All universities have graduated their responses according to the health situation," explained Olivier Laboux, vice-president of the Conference of University Presidents, at a press conference last week.

In some universities, one in two places has been removed in lecture halls to promote social distancing, such as at the University of Nantes.

Others have organized test barnums in front of their premises, to encourage students to be tested.

“In my university, one place in two is condemned in lecture hall.

And the courses take place one week face-to-face and one week in distance ", testifies for example Clara, in L2 Law at the University of Sceaux.

Why is there a rebound in the epidemic in these establishments?

Wearing a mask is generally well respected by the students.

But some report crowded and poorly ventilated amphis, entry and exit of TD happening at the same time, which prevents social distancing.

“Classes in lecture halls are worrying.

There is no gap between us, no space… I do not understand why distance courses are not privileged ”, testifies Cristina, in L3 of letters at the University of Paris Sorbonne.

“Restaurant U is the worst place, there is no distance between us.

Everyone says hello, it's a disaster, ”also tells Clara, in L2 Law at the University of Sceaux.

A situation which is explained by an inequality of means of the universities, according to the student organizations, some having cramped premises, not being able to duplicate certain courses ... strengthen the screening policy as close as possible to university centers, ”recommended Orlane François, president of Fage, on France Info.

“We have to hire contract workers to split classes,” suggests Mélanie Luce, president of the UNEF.

In addition, on social networks, images of student parties are rotating in recent weeks, during which some abandon barrier gestures.

Ditto in certain evenings with friends, or when students privatize bars.

“However, young people are often asymptomatic.

And they are less likely to realize that they can transmit the disease, ”explained Frédérique Vidal.

How to better control student parties?

In the Bouches-du-Rhône and New Aquitaine, the prefects have banned student parties.

In other regions, the ministry can only count on the goodwill of the students.

“What I can do concretely is to appeal to their sense of responsibility.

They are adults, they are able to understand, ”said Frédérique Vidal.

The ministry also wants to rely on student organizations to bring prevention messages to the field.

Some student associations have already given up on festive rituals: “We will not have an integration weekend this year,” says Floriane, in L3 international relations at Paris-Sorbonne University.

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• Higher Education

• Coronavirus

• Frederique Vidal

• University

• Covid 19

• Society