Advance, whatever the cost. Despite the closure of schools, the Minister of National Education categorically refuses to change his line of sight: lessons must continue and the objective of raising the general level of students must be maintained.
To achieve this, he announces to us, in addition to the continuation of the class at home, a series of initiatives intended to keep united the dispersed classes: regular phone calls to families, educational television programs and, when the crisis is finished, a refresher course for all children in difficulty.
Educational continuity has been in place for a week. Does it work?
JEAN-MICHEL BLANQUER. It is a very large-scale operation, in a new context. There were of course computer problems the first day, because all of France was on the Internet. But beyond these problems, the site "My class at home" is a first success. One in four teachers practice it today. It complements the courses that teachers prepare for their students and disseminate to them via the establishments' digital work environments or in paper form, and all the mechanisms that teachers have been able to find to keep in touch with their students. So that no student stays by the way, we will also telephone each family each week.
Will everyone be called, even in high school?
We have 12 million students, for just over 850,000 teachers. This makes an average of three phone calls per day per teacher. The goal is to take news, make sure the tools are used, and answer questions. It is the occasion for a personalized contact different from the usual relationships.
Many students and teachers keep in touch through private platforms, such as Discord or WhatsApp. Are they right to do so?
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There needs to be a national reference, which gives a backbone to the system. This is what we have with the Cned and “My class at home” and the digital working environments of the establishments. This approach is to be preferred. It is not prohibited to add a third tool. But to me, the best formula is to combine the first and the second approach.
In recent days, a host of companies have offered their support to teachers or parents. You say welcome to them, or drop your paws?
The public service of National Education is able to meet the needs of all of its students. When using private operators, care must be taken to ensure that student data is protected. This is why we must favor the public system, because it guarantees ethics and free. We must of course be open to innovations, as long as they respect the rules.
How do you plan to manage the inequalities between children, who are likely to widen during the crisis?
Our two essential objectives for this quinquennium which are to raise the general level of all the pupils and to ensure social justice by education can be partly threatened in the period which we cross. I asked the rectors to pay special attention to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Their families will be called more frequently. We work with local communities and associations, to send as much computer equipment as possible to families who do not have one. In addition, after the crisis, I will set up free support modules for the most disadvantaged children.
When will they take place?
We will adapt to the situation, and especially at the end of the crisis. What is certain is that there will be at least at the end of August, to allow those who have suffered from the past weeks to prepare their return. We will devote all the necessary means to it.
This Monday, programs for students are starting on several channels. What will they be used for?
The “Learning Nation” operation, which we have just launched, concerns the public audiovisual sector but also, more broadly, all the media (radio, TV, Internet, writing), so that all participate in a dynamic of quality content around school programs, from elementary to high school. We have created a unit at the ministry which gives the green light to each program. One of the objectives is that students who do not have the Internet can watch well-made and educational television programs.
What do you expect from parents in this period?
The most important point is the state of mind: you need a team atmosphere between adults and children. I am optimistic because the first week has been very positive on this point. We have seen a phenomenal commitment from teachers, parents, full of goodwill, as well as students. We are deploying all means to support them. We will also provide practical advice to parents over time.
How are you going to do it?
I will send a message every weekend to all parents of students in France, to take stock and answer questions. For that, I surround myself with competent professionals, including psychologists. This will be transmitted by social networks and mailboxes.
Parents are afraid of not succeeding. What do you say to those who do not feel capable of going to school at home?
The parent is not asked to be a teacher, but to guide the child to the right resource, recommended by national education, on the Internet but not only. There is also a toll free number in each academy. Above all, you have to follow very simply what the professor is asking.
The confinement will last. Is there a chance that establishments will remain closed until the long holidays?
We prepare for everything. The preferred scenario is that of a return to class after the last spring break, on May 4, but we are obviously dependent on the evolution of the epidemic.
Is the bac in continuous assessment an option if the crisis lasts?
The main option is the normal transition from the baccalaureate to the scheduled dates. But we are working on different scenarios depending on the duration of the confinement. Among these assumptions, there is effectively the taking into account, important or partial, of the continuous control. We do technical work, in concert with representative organizations, to arrive at the right formula according to the circumstances.
Are you planning to shorten the summer vacation?
No, the goal is not to touch the holidays. A false letter on this subject circulated Friday, with a false signature. I complained to identify the authors of this forgery.
The school year will have been very hectic and a lot of students have missed a lot of lessons. Will you ask for leniency from the examiners, especially those from the bac?
The goal is never to trap students. I want to believe that the current time will not be a lost time, but a different time, the opportunity for the students to gain autonomy, to work in a more concentrated way. The mobilization of all will allow that there is not a drop in skills. My goal remains to raise the general level of all students.