Paris (AFP)
Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said on Sunday that the gauge imposed in high schools would surely be extended beyond January 20 due to the health crisis, but rejected for the time being the idea of a postponement the first baccalaureate exams scheduled for March.
The government asked high schools in November to adapt their organization to try to limit the progression of the Covid-19 epidemic, with a gauge of 50% of students today respected, according to the ministry, in 69% of establishments audiences across the country.
At the time, the ministry anticipated a possible resumption of classes at 100% of the workforce in high schools around January 20.
"I think we will have to come back to this (...) the epidemic situation being what it is", agreed Sunday Mr. Blanquer to the Grand Jury RTL-Le Figaro-LCI.
The appearance of a British variant of Covid 19, deemed to be more contagious among young people, worries the health authorities, while the circulation of the virus remains important in France with an average of 18,000 daily cases.
On the other hand, the minister refused to consider postponing the early baccalaureate exams for the time being.
"We must maintain in March and then we will look (...) what is predictable on the epidemic plan", he pleaded, "at this stage we are maintaining the month of March in the interest of the students".
Teachers and parents of students have demanded in recent weeks the postponement to June of these specialty tests in Terminale.
Jean-Michel Blanquer also confirmed that a possible extension of the February holidays was "not on the agenda".
He also announced "a million tests in schools" in January.
Since November, only 10,000 tests had been carried out on a voluntary basis in high schools of ten academies.
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