Will teachers find sparse classes starting May 11? While Emmanuel Macron promised a “gradual” return to school and on a “voluntary principle” , nearly two parents in three (64%) say that they will not send at least one child in class when the containment is lifted, according to our Odoxa-Dentsu Consulting survey for Le Figaro and France Info. A similar proportion of French people reject the reopening of educational establishments (63%) and believes that this measure was taken to allow parents to return to work (60%), in the midst of the global epidemic of Covid-19.
To justify his decision, the Head of State had nevertheless expressed a concern to reduce "inequalities" , in his speech to 36.7 million viewers on April 13. For its part, the Ministry of Education insists on the level of school dropout observed, especially in the popular categories. Lack of equipment, internet connection or supervision, some 4% of students in France - between 15% and 25% overseas - would have been "lost" by their teachers since the start of confinement, according to the ministry .
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But the executive sees its argument put at risk: the more the parents are modest, the less they intend to return their offspring to school, according to our survey. In detail, this choice concerns 17% of the most modest parents (less than 1500 euros net monthly per household), against 36% of those with average incomes (between 1500 and 3500 euros) and 48% of the wealthiest (more than 3500 euros). "We are far from the objective pursued by the Head of State," notes the president of the Odoxa institute, Gaël Sliman.
The opposition of a majority of French people to the reopening of schools represents a new snub for the government, already disowned by most of them (72%) in its refusal to make it compulsory to wear a protective mask ( our Odoxa-Dentsu Consulting survey of April 9) . "For the opinion, a return to school is irreconcilable with the health objective of fighting the epidemic" , notes Gaël Sliman.
Another difficulty faces the Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer: the distrust of the population, not very convinced of the implementation of the announced health precautions. Respect for barrier gestures in schools, with a supply of soap and hydroalcoholic gel, as well as limiting the number of students to 15 students per class, are two measures supported by a majority of French people (80% and 72% of them) . But they are much less numerous (45% and 42%) to judge that they will indeed apply.
However, they are already in force in part of New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna. In these three Pacific territories, the only ones in France to escape national restrictions on the freedom to come and go, schools reopened this week. In strict compliance with the barrier gestures, insist the local authorities.