Paris (France) (AFP)
Masked, Emmanuel Macron addressed to the students Monday in a video posted on Instagram his wishes for a good return "a little particular", asking them to respect the wearing of the mask and the barrier gestures.
The head of state, who took off Monday evening for Beirut, will not be able to visit a class this year on the day of the start of the school year as he is used to.
Hence this video recorded in the garden of the Palais and posted on Instagram, a social network very popular with young people.
"It's a bit special back to school, because the virus is still there and you have to protect yourself," he said.
"So I count a lot on you, from tomorrow morning, to apply barrier gestures, wearing a mask and all the rest".
He also thanks "all the teachers in France for their mobilization in this regard" and hopes that the start of the school year will "enable all those who have been away from school for months" since confinement.
And ends with a word in favor of welcoming disabled students.
Tuesday, September 1, 12.4 million students will return to class under the threat of the coronavirus, with instructions to wear the compulsory mask for teachers and students.
This new school year is causing a lot of concern among parents and teachers alike.
They fear potential school closures in the event of contamination in a classroom as well as difficulties in teaching with a mask, especially for toddlers, but also the difficulty of hanging up some students who have not set foot in school for months.
In an attempt to reassure teachers, Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer promised them a "Teachers' Grenelle" aimed at improving their salaries and working conditions.
© 2020 AFP