Edouard Philippe presented the deconfinement plan to the National Assembly on Tuesday. He notably tackled the subject of schools, detailing level by level the decisions taken regarding the reopening of classes. A gradual reopening accompanied by sanitary measures concerning in particular the wearing of the mask.

During the presentation of the deconfinement plan, Tuesday at the National Assembly, Édouard Philippe notably mentioned the subject of schools. While a gradual return to school was already announced from May 11, the head of government reiterated this decision, however leaving the question of high schools pending.

This justified "the reopening of schools" by the need to want to "guarantee the educational success of students, especially the most vulnerable among them, whose education suffers terribly from confinement". He also said he wanted to "leave the maximum flexibility to the field in the matter", judging that "school directors, parents of students, local communities will find together, pragmatically, the best solutions".

>> THE ESSENTIAL - What to remember from the deconfinement plan presented Tuesday by Edouard Philippe

Reopening of kindergartens and primary schools, on a voluntary basis

The government "proposes a very gradual reopening of kindergartens and elementary school from May 11," announced the Prime Minister. A decision that extends to the whole territory, and on a voluntary basis, he said.

Back to school from May 18

Back to school, back to school will start on May 18. The establishments will be able to gradually reopen from this date "starting with the departments where the circulation of the virus is weak, and starting with the classes of 6th and 5th", specified Édouard Philippe before the National Assembly.

For high schools, decision postponed until the end of May

Concerning the lycées, whose final year students will pass a baccalaureate evaluated only via continuous assessment, a decision should be made at the end of May as to their reopening. "We will decide at the end of May if we can reopen the lycées, starting with the professional lycées, at the beginning of June," said the head of government.

If there is a return, Édouard Philippe clarified that it will be done under very strict conditions with, in particular, "classes limited to 15 students" and "a school life organized around compliance with barrier rules, measures of strict hygiene and the distribution of hydroalcoholic gels ", as had already been envisaged.

We will decide at the end of May if we can reopen the lycées, starting with the professional lycées, in early June.

- Edouard Philippe (@EPhilippePM) April 28, 2020

Reopening of nurseries, in groups of 10 maximum

Children enrolled in nursery can again be welcomed. The crèches will also be reopened, but in groups of ten children maximum. However, if the specific conditions of the establishment allow children not to be in contact, several groups of ten children may be accommodated.

Mandatory mask for college students only

Edouard Philippe also addressed the sensitive issue of wearing a mask. Middle school students are the only students for whom the Prime Minister has explicitly announced the compulsory wearing of a mask. These masks will be provided to college students who have failed to obtain them, he added. 

The Scientific Council having underlined, in its last opinion, the difficulty of wearing a mask for the youngest schoolchildren, the head of government voluntarily excluded the nursery and primary pupils from this device. "Wearing a mask is prohibited for kindergarten children," he said, also referring to the risks of misuse in elementary school.

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However, he announced, the French Ministry of Education will provide school directors with pediatric masks for special cases. These can be used, for example, on a child with symptoms of Covid-19, while their parents come to recover it. As for children enrolled in nursery, "of course, of course, there will be no wearing of a mask for children under three years of age," said Edouard Philippe.

The Prime Minister did not mention the mask equipment for high school students, a dead end made after he announced the postponement at the end of May of a firm decision concerning the reopening of high schools. Anyway, and whatever the level, "all teachers and supervisors will receive masks which they will have to wear when they cannot respect the rules of distancing," insisted the head of government.