While Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will present, Tuesday, "the national strategy of the deconfinement plan" - including the resumption of schools -, the Scientific Council "took note of the political decision" for a return to school from May 11 , in a note made public on Saturday April 25 in the evening.

The body which advises the government proposed, in its opinion dated April 20, also published on Saturday evening, "to keep crèches, schools, colleges, high schools and universities closed until September". "The risk of transmission is significant in places of massive regrouping that are schools and universities, specified the Scientific Council, with barrier measures particularly difficult to implement in the youngest."

Sending children back to school as early as May is a "political decision" which the Government Scientific Council "took note" of, in particular, recommending the wearing of masks in middle and high schools, but the body proposed for its rather wait until September.

>> Read also: Reopening schools: teachers divided between wanting to reconnect and fear of the Covid-19

President Emmanuel Macron announced, on April 13, the reopening of nurseries, schools, colleges and high schools, mentioning in particular children "deprived of school without having access to digital technology and who cannot (be) helped in the same way by parents ".

The Scientific Council, in its opinion dated April 20, also recognizes the existence of "societal issues", "in particular for children who have been the subject of a report and their families, the absence of school being able to foster situations of abuse. "

The upcoming reopening of schools has aroused many objections since the announcement of the President of the Republic, both from parents and teachers, whose unions denounced the vagueness of the terms.

"Wearing a mask must be compulsory" from college

This week, the Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer sketched the tracks of a return to school spread over three weeks by class level, with groups of 15 students maximum. Stating that if a family did not want to send their child to school, it would be possible but with the obligation to follow distance education.

In its note, the Scientific Council proposes a list of strict measures to adapt the rules of social distancing to the school environment. Measures detailed on ten pages which should avoid "the closure of an entire establishment in the event of the discovery of a positive case".

>> See also: Jean-Michel Blanquer: "No, going back to school on a voluntary basis is not a snag at the 1882 law"

First point: the anti-splash mask, industrial or artisanal, must be mandatory in middle and high schools, for students and staff alike, recommend the scientists responsible for enlightening the government.

"For schoolchildren / high school students for whom understanding is good and education in the wearing of masks is possible, the wearing of masks must be compulsory", decides the Council, considering however the wearing of masks "impossible" in kindergarten.

When they cannot wear a mask, especially during meals, "pupils and staff of educational establishments must organize themselves to respect the rule of social distancing".

Classroom lunches and temperature readings

Schools, cleaned several times a day, should also ensure that pupils in one class do not come across pupils in another class and avoid gatherings of children and parents at the entrance to schools. .

And, "if it is possible", that the students all have lunch in class, at their desks which will have to be separated in particular by one meter in class. 

To go to school, "a multiplication of the offer" should "make it possible to reduce the density of pupils in school transport".

The fight against Covid-19 will also be played at home: parents are invited to take the children's temperature every day before school.   

Concerning the tests, the Scientific Council considers that a massive screening of the pupils and the whole of the personnel "is not possible", because it would concern more than 14 million people and should be renewed regularly (every 5-7 days) to be effective.

Jean-Michel Blanquer indicated on Twitter that the note of the Council on the schools would be used as "base" for "the development of the health protocol announced to give a sure framework to the deconfinement school".

With AFP

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