Since the start of the health crisis, the issue of education has undoubtedly remained one of the most sensitive subjects.
"The health situation really has to be extremely serious to close the schools," confessed Jean Castex on January 7.
But it must also take into account health considerations, to try to avoid as much as possible that the school does not become a major vector for the spread of the epidemic.
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While the new variants are "potentially more contagious in children," warns Olivier Véran, we take stock of the evening announcements.
Massive screening for children and teachers
The Minister of Health did not wait for the evening announcements to publicize the government's decision to set up massive screenings in schools.
Traveling to Metz this Thursday morning, the Minister of Health said that the new school health protocol aims in particular to "screen up to a million children and teachers per month".
He specifies that these tests will concern children from “the age of 6, wherever it makes sense”.
Reinforced health protocol
This is the main announcement of the day when it comes to schools.
Closure is not considered at this stage, but the government has decided to further strengthen the health protocol currently in force.
The protocol in the canteens will be "reinforced": "no mixing possible between classes" and the possibility of "take-away meals".
School and extracurricular physical activities will be “suspended” again when they take place indoors.
"We are proud to have allowed France to be the country which has maintained the most school days for its children," said Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer, who affirms that the circulation of the virus is "relatively controlled ”in schools, despite the“ weak link ”represented by canteens.
The hybrid mode (face-to-face / distance mixture) is for its part extended in high schools.
Universities: a "very gradual" return, only for 1st year students
Frédérique Vidal, in charge of Higher Education, faces a file that is at least as sensitive in this period of pandemic: the university.
With a subject that takes up all the space: distance learning courses, dropping out and the discomfort that weighs down student morale.
At the beginning of December, the government had planned a resumption of face-to-face classes for January 20.
This date, once again, is postponed.
However, the government announces the return in "half-group" and only "in tutorials (TD)" of the first year students.
This measure will apply from January 25.
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"The number of psychologists in establishments will be doubled during the second semester," added Frédérique Vidal, also promising a greater offer of antigenic tests.
