REPORTAGE
It is already the start of the school year for some of the pupils of Reunion, even if those of the 14 schools of Saint-Denis have seen the resumption postponed to August 24 because the number of cases of coronavirus increases on the island and in particular in the capital, where several sources of contamination have been identified. For establishments whose doors open Monday, the effervescence of the return to class is tinged with apprehension in the face of the coronavirus epidemic.
"There aren't many constraints"
For Jérôme Motet, it was thus essential to return to the painting, in front of his schoolchildren. But this teacher, also vice-president of the National Union of high schools and colleges in Reunion, would have preferred a return with a stricter health protocol. "There are no longer many constraints apart from wearing a mask and disinfecting the premises, there is no longer a ban on brewing in schoolyards and no more social distancing," he points out. he with Europe 1. Before adding: "I think the protocol went too fast."
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The concern of teachers and parents
To compensate, Diane intends, for her part, to devote this first week to doing prevention: reminding her of the barrier measures (and their importance!) To her CM1s, without however distressing them. The situation is not obvious in Sainte-Clotilde, a quarter east of Saint-Denis, where several schools still remain closed on Monday. What to cause misunderstandings. "There are still concerns, but if I am in this fear I will pass it on to the children, and it won't go well."
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Many parents are already worried and call the establishments. "The concern had more or less faded with the end of confinement but there new cases appeared, this apprehension, it is much stronger," admits Christian, a father. He said he was relieved, despite everything, to see his two daughters go back to school, "and that of a normal life."
"We understand the concerns"
"We are completely listening and we understand the concerns that may arise among parents, staff and teachers," said the microphone of Europe 1 Chantal Manès-Bonnisseau, rector of Reunion. "We spend all the time necessary to explain the protocol", would like to remind the manager, who indicates that the first hour of children's lessons is systematically devoted to the reminder of barrier gestures, in all schools.
"Children are safe at school," says the rector. "We have made progress, we are not in the same situation as a few months ago."