The President of the Republic visited a school in Melun on Monday as part of the start of the school year.

After a week of distancing and two weeks of vacation, Emmanuel Macron wanted to mark the importance of returning to schools, despite the health context.

Emmanuel Macron went to a primary school in Melun, on the first day of a reopening marked by the strengthening of the health protocol against Covid-19.

This trip aims to emphasize the importance of resuming classes despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Head of State arrived shortly after 10 a.m. in the Paul-Cézanne school, where more than 200 children are educated, to discuss with students, all masked, from a CM2 class in the company of the Minister of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer.

"Thank" the teachers

Emmanuel "Are you happy to come back physically?" He asked the students.

"Yes", they replied, although one of them admitted preferring to work from home with "the help of Google and (my) sister".

This visit to Melun also aims to "thank" the teachers "for their commitment since the start of the crisis and discuss with them the specific health framework for schools and the means implemented to ensure pedagogical continuity", explained the Elysee Palace. .

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This start of the school year, which precedes by one week that of face-to-face or half-gauge secondary schools and high schools, is accompanied by a strengthening of the health protocol with in particular the increase in saliva tests as well as the closure of classes as soon as a Covid-19 case is detected.

The European country that has closed its schools the least

"School helps to fight against social inequalities and destiny. This is why our children must be able to continue to go there and to learn, with a strict protocol. Have a good start to all!", Also tweeted the chef of the State after three weeks of closure of schools.

"And let's continue to apply the barrier gestures (let's remember the song)", added the head of state, in reference to his challenge to McFly and Carlito.

School helps fight against social inequalities and destiny.

This is why our children must be able to continue to go there and to learn, with a strict protocol.

Welcome back everyone !

And let's continue to apply barrier gestures (remember the song).

- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 26, 2021

According to Unesco, France was the European country which has closed its schools the least for a year (March 2020-March 2021) with 10 weeks of closure in total, against 28 in Germany and 47 in the United States, welcomes the Presidency.

A choice that Emmanuel Macron defends continuously since the end of the first confinement, despite criticism from part of the medical profession and the opposition.

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The start of the school year is the first phase towards the gradual lifting of restrictions due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

The next stage, on May 3, in addition to the return to school or in half-gauge colleges and high schools, must see the limitations of movement disappear.

A more important stage is planned for mid-May, with the reopening of the terraces and shops.