The Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer wants all children to be able to find their school "at least once" by the end of May, he said in an interview with the Journal du dimanche.
"Nearly 86%" of the 50,500 schools in France closed since March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic will open from Monday, according to the minister. They will welcome “more than 1.5 million children” out of a total of 6.7 million kindergarten and elementary school children. "A large part of the 14% of remaining schools should reopen" before the end of May, says Jean-Michel Blanquer.
Out-of-school activities encouraged
The minister "wishes that all the children could have found their school physically at least once by the end of the month". It recognizes that this objective will require adaptations, in particular when "the premises are cramped". He therefore proposed to the municipalities to set up sports, health, culture and civic activities "outside of school".
"The students will be able to go, in a small group, to the museum, to parks, to practice physical activities, to follow health training ... This is an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with communities," he explains.
The first priority of the school between now and the summer is "psychological": "Welcoming the students, listening to them, seeing how they are doing". At the educational level, after two months of confinement, “the goal is not to complete the programs at all costs; we must reason astride next year, ”explains the minister.
Distance education continues
"Nearly 50%" of teachers will return to work in schools on Monday, which allows, according to Jean-Michel Blanquer, "to welcome students who return". "You have to reboot things quietly, without anyone feels an even us of the premises. "
Teachers who are not in class "will take care of distance education for students at home". "Some students will be dealing with a teacher who is not theirs," confirms the Minister, who welcomes the success of the Cned My class platform at home. “So in different ways, everyone will be at work. "
On the recovery calendar, "each school has its vision". “But many have chosen to welcome, in half-groups, students of large section, CP and CM2, supplemented by multi-level groups for priority audiences. For work-study programs, it is often every other week, ”specifies the Minister. “Many municipalities seem to opt for meals in the canteen rather than in the classroom, by changing the hours and increasing the number of services. "
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If a child was contaminated at school, the legal responsibility of the mayor would not be engaged, affirms Jean-Michel Blanquer: "The responsibility for deciding the opening of a school lies with the State".