In high schools, anger is mounting at the health protocol deemed weak

In a French high school on October 13, 2020. -

• The discontent rises in high schools.

  Students and teachers denounce the health protocol, considered insufficient to curb the epidemic.

• After attempts to block high schools by students on Tuesday, new disruptions could take place this Thursday.

  Some teachers have also already gone on strike and the movement could spread.

• New measures, such as the generalization of half-group courses and the reduction of programs, are requested.

“In the classes there are 35, impossible to respect social distancing.

In the halls of the school, we are clustered.

In the tails of the selfs, we are glued to each other.

In short, no place is secure.

If it continues like this, the high schools will become clusters, ”fulminates Mathieu Devlaminck, the president of the National Union of High School Students (UNL).

An impression that he is far from being the only one to have.

“In some rooms, the windows are closed, which makes ventilation impossible.

And the agents are not enough to ensure the cleaning.

Much stronger health measures would have been needed, ”also testifies Karine *, professor of history and geography in Villepinte (Seine Saint-Denis).

According to her, the reinforced health protocol that the Ministry of Education published on its site on Friday is insufficient.

This provides in particular for strengthening the ventilation of classes and premises, limiting the mixing of pupils, and the distance of at least one meter also applies, if possible ...

Blockades of high schools on Tuesday

On the side of the principals, we also feel the temperature rising: “I have feedback from about twenty academies which show strong tension among teachers.

They believe that there are too many differences between the health measures taken for establishments and those for the rest of civil society.

Especially since the reform of the bac has the consequence of a greater mixing of students, because with the game of specialties, they spend only 50% of their time with their class group ”, explains Philippe Vincent, secretary general of SNPDEN, the main union of heads of establishments.

And this grumbling has already started to be expressed loud and clear on Monday.

“Teachers have gone on strike.

But for the time being we do not have figures on this subject, ”admits the Ministry of Education, questioned by

And Tuesday, a dozen Parisian high schools were the target of brief blockades or blocking attempts by students to denounce the weakness of the health protocol.

Elsewhere in France, some other blockade attempts took place, such as at the Guist'hau high school in Nantes or at the Pasteur high school in Besançon, where more than a hundred high school students were mobilized.

Ditto in Corsica, where blockades or gatherings were also held in front of several establishments.

"The risk is that we add a social crisis to the health crisis"

And according to Philippe Vincent, the fever is not about to fall: “The pressure cooker can explode if no decision is made.

The risk is that we add a social crisis to the health crisis ”.

Same story with Mathieu Devlaminck: “Thursday, there may still be blockages.

And if before Friday 12 p.m., the minister does not make any announcement, we will call for mobilization.

It could take the form of a sit-in for students in the playgrounds, ”he warns.

All are unanimous on one point: there are solutions to make teachers and students take fewer risks.

“There is a general demand to organize classes in half-groups with a rotation system.

This would make it possible to drastically reduce the number of students present at the same time in high school, ”indicates Philippe Vincent.

"It is not ideal, but it would be the solution to avoid a closure of high schools in the coming weeks", adds Mathieu Devlaminck.

“With this system, students take a face-to-face course and leave with homework to do while the other group is in high school,” explains Karin.

The Hauts-de-France region spoke on Tuesday for this solution, also deeming the health protocol incomplete.

"We are also asking for a reduction in school programs"

This possibility is theoretically already offered to establishments and some have already adopted it.

"But the school plan must first be submitted to the rectorate, which is based on health and educational criteria to approve the establishment of half-group courses", specifies the rue de Grenelle.

However, while some rectors validate these half-group course projects, others refuse them.

“The minister having said that he was not in favor, some rectors do not allow themselves to validate them.

We need clearer instructions, ”explains Philippe Vincent.

His union is also participating this Wednesday evening in a meeting with the entourage of Jean-Michel Blanquer.

"We could be sent signals of openness on the subject," he said.

And if ever the educational community wins its case on the generalization of half-group courses, it will not stop there.

"We are also asking for a reduction in school programs, because in these special conditions, all the pupils will not advance at the same speed", estimates Mathieu Devlaminck.

"It will indeed quickly prove to be necessary", abounds Philippe Vincent.

* 

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