“As if we had nothing to do with checking the etiquette of the masks of the hundreds of kids who cross the school gate every day…” Bitter words from a school principal in Charente-Maritime.
This Monday morning, the obligation to wear a category 1 mask came into effect in schools, colleges, and high schools.
Objective: to limit contamination with Covid-19, while the British variant, more contagious, is spreading in the country.
But the measure, announced at the beginning of February in the reinforced health protocol, is debated among teachers, parents, and school heads, tired "of the accumulation of binding devices announced at the very last moment."
The pupils must now equip themselves with category 1 masks. These are type 1, 2 and 2R surgical masks, for single use, to be changed every 4 hours and which protect between 95% and 98% from splashed droplets.
This category also contains category 1 reusable fabric masks, with a lifespan of 5 to 50 washes depending on the model, with an efficiency of 90%.
Concretely, this new restriction prohibits homemade masks.
What annoys Émilie, a 35-year-old mother living in Savoie, whose son is in first grade.
She refuses to buy new masks.
“Since the start of the crisis, we have started sewing, scrupulously respecting the authorities' instructions on the fabric reference and the pattern, to make effective masks.
And there, we are asked to throw them in the trash?
It is bullshit !
Emilie went to knock on the director's door.
“I told him that I simply refused to change my mask.
He agreed: he won't say anything to the children who have a homemade mask.
"
A high cost for families
The instructions of the ministry are however to ask each family to "organize" to equip themselves with masks to the standards, a "deadline" having been granted between February 2, date of the new protocol, and the 8, day of its entry. in force.
To date, according to National Education figures, 934 classes are closed in France because of Covid-19.
A small number, 0.17% of the total of classes, but more than twice the number of the previous week.
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Another concern highlighted: the cost.
Keziah, a mother of Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis), deplores a “costly decision for families”.
"At 2 euros for the surgical mask that must be changed every four hours, the bill climbs quickly, especially since I have three children," she sighs, assuring that she would make the effort "since 'child health issue'.
Some communities should, like last year, provide masks to families in greatest difficulty.
The department of Seine-Saint-Denis, at the beginning of January, supplied 2 category 1 masks to secondary school students, in addition to the four already provisioned in September.
"It is not normal that the National Education does not provide these masks, given their cost and the fact that the school is supposed to be free", thunders in the entourage of Stéphane Troussel, the PS president of the departmental council.
In the working-class neighborhoods, chains of solidarity were also set in motion to manufacture, in large quantities, these artisanal masks.
The school can provide one
In theory, students who enter school with the wrong mask should be given one by the school.
The ministry thus indicates to have a stock of masks of category 1 "for all the personnel", as well as a small reserve for the pupils who would not have any.
Because, if schools have a stock, "it is not extendable", assures Guislaine David, national delegate of Snuipp-FSU, majority union among primary teachers.
She will therefore ask Jean-Michel Blanquer "to provide the masks to the establishments".
“Because we cannot ask the personnel to police to see if the equipment is up to standard,” she underlines.
This is confirmed by Hélène, a teacher in Seine-et-Marne: “Today, I closed my eyes a little on who wore what type of mask… It is untenable, even if we suspect that it is not just to annoy us!
"
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Same story with Philippe Vincent, principal in Marseille and delegate of SNPDEN, the majority union of school heads, who confirms that the measure is "difficult to enforce".
"It's not our job, especially at the moment," he annoys.
There are not enough staff, and the time to organize was too short.
"
