“If the schools opened on May 11, we would be in an exceptional situation where it would be impossible for us to guarantee health security. These blunt words are those of all 42 school directors from Vitry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne) in a letter they sent to their prefecture.
They express their “serious concerns” about the resumption of classes next week. "Absolutely impossible", in a primary school, to "guarantee the entirety of barrier gestures" and "to maintain social distancing between children". "If this opening was imposed on us despite our warning, the teaching teams could in no way be held responsible for the consequences on the health of all", still insist these school heads.
Strike notices for May 11
They are not the only ones, in the Ile-de-France teaching world, to believe that a recovery next week is untenable. Several teachers' unions are even preparing to strike if the sanitary conditions are not met. "We have filed a strike notice which runs from May 11 to July 4," confirms Sonia Perez, co-secretary of the teachers' union Snuipp-FSU in Essonne. We could also exercise our right of withdrawal. "
Main difficulty: the limitation to 15 students per room. "If 30 families show up at the school gates, what do we do?" We sort them to keep only fifteen? Asks Sonia Perez.
VIDEO. The concern of mayors before the reopening of schools
The Snuipp also filed a strike notice in Paris. "We are opposed to the reopening of schools because of the circulation of the virus which remains strong", justifies Elisabeth Kutas, the secretary of the union in the capital. Which specifies not to be opposed to the reopening of schools before July 4, "but provided that the sanitary conditions allow it".
At Sud Education, we do not believe it and we demand a recovery in September. Until then, the union "calls on all education personnel to exercise their right of withdrawal".
Parents also reassembled
The worry does not stop at teachers. Some parents' federations are in tune. In Val-de-Marne, the FCPE calls on parents to boycott return to school. "We are the turkeys of the farce," says Nageate Belhacen, president of the FCPE 94, for whom it is scandalous that we leave it to parents, "who are for many of them in a situation of economic and social pressure", the responsibility of getting their child back to school.
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"This recovery is done in a great rush, abounds Samir Alioua, the president of the FCPE in Essonne. If strict compliance with barrier gestures cannot be ensured within an establishment, we call on parents not to send their children to school. "