Catholic private education under contract informed all school heads that they could now accommodate more than 15 students per class, based on reading the latest texts published by the ministry.
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In the circular entitled " second phase of reopening of schools and establishments ", and published on Thursday in the official bulletin, there is no longer any mention of the 15 pupils per maximum class, notes the general secretariat of Catholic education (SGEC).
In the first circular of " reopening of schools and educational establishments ", published on May 4, it was written that " lessons take place in groups comprising a maximum of 15 students in compliance with the rules of distance ".
In nursery schools, the ceiling of 10 pupils maximum per class initially mentioned has also disappeared. As a result, Sgec wrote to all school leaders on Thursday to inform them of the possibility of welcoming more students, while specifying that " the need to respect the social distancing between students and teachers " remains. " As soon as a rule is no longer written, it is repealed, " Yann Diraison, assistant to Sgec, told AFP. " Our institutions are facing terrible pressure from parents who want to put their children back in school and who cannot " because of the super strict protocol that governs the reopening of institutions, he continued. " If some schools have rooms large enough to accommodate 17, 19 or 20 students, that will be fine, " he said.
Such flexibility has never been mentioned publicly by the department. Questioned Thursday on the subject, the Minister of Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, said he hoped that the health protocol could "soon" be lightened, but that it would not be right away.
In many places, notably the big cities, the reopening of the schools does not allow the reception of all the student volunteers, due in particular to the constraints which ensue from this protocol.
