Deconfinement in France: schools reopen very partially

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More than a million kindergarten and elementary students out of nearly 7 million in total are scheduled to return to school on Tuesday. A return which takes place within the limits of the schools' reception capacities. Teachers will have the heavy task of enforcing “barrier gestures” and protective measures designed to avoid any contamination.

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They are fourteen this Tuesday morning to have crossed the green portal of this small school of Ravigny, commune of Mayenne, in the west of France, of a little more than 200 inhabitants. Normally, 27 students jostle on the school benches. These fourteen children were received one after the other by their teacher, reports our special envoy, Nicolas Falez.

Here, one class and one teacher. But like everywhere else, it is a transformed, adapted school that the students of Ravigny have been discovering for a few minutes. There is now color signage in the playground to define the play areas. Inside, there are arrows on the ground and other indications of respect for distances. Hand washing will be systematic all day.

Sixty pages of health security protocol

In France, re-entry takes place in different ways depending on the municipality, since reopening depends greatly on the mayors. Certain levels are preferred: the large section, CP and CM2. These pivotal classes will open the ball.

To comply with the 60 pages of health security protocol, the limit has been set at 15 students maximum per class, only a minority of them - around a million - will be able to see their teacher again on Tuesday after more than a month and half telework. 500,000 others will follow them during the week. Repeated hand washing, wearing of the mask recommended for teachers, permanent compliance with barrier gestures are also part of the protocol established by the government.

Priority half-groups and audiences

Jean-Michel Blanquer, the Minister of National Education, said that in all, 86% of schools would have reopened by Friday. The classes will operate mainly in half-groups with alternating each week between half of the pupils present and the other by telework.

The ministry has set return priorities for students, in particular those with disabilities, the children of nursing staff, so-called “dropouts” and those whose parents have no childcare solution. And the return is made on a voluntary basis.

Worried teachers

A much criticized recovery which is considered precipitated by the opposition to the government. However, as of next week, middle school students from departments in the green zone will also return to class.

According to a Harris poll, 82% of teachers are worried about this recovery. And it is not the report of the "Monsieur Déconfinement" of the government, published on Monday, which will reassure. "  An emergency reconfiguration must be anticipated,  " says Jean Castex, to avoid the second wave.

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• France
• Coronavirus
• Health and Medicine
• Education
• Youth
• Confinement

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