Taking parents and teachers by surprise, the Ministry of National Education announced Friday evening, in all discretion, a relaxation of the health protocol in schools from Monday, despite the progression of Covid-19 and its variants on the territory.
From now on, the discovery of a case of the British variant in a pupil or teacher will no longer necessarily result in the closure of a class, as has been the case until now.
Likewise, a teacher will no longer necessarily be considered a contact case if three of his students are infected.
Only an "in-depth study of contacts will determine whether the staff of the class" should be considered as such, specifies the ministry on its site.
So many measures that surprise, even worry many teachers and parents of students.
"When we hear what is happening near us in Moselle, and in parallel, we are asked not to close the classes ... obviously that can only worry us", explains Abderrahim Belghiti, professor of mathematics in Tomblaine (Meurthe-et-Moselle) and secretary general of SGEN-CFDT for Lorraine.
"We have never defended class closures because we know their consequences too well, but we cannot close our eyes if the contaminations progress," adds the teacher.
After three health protocols announced in a few months and adaptations "always put in place in a hurry", the teacher points out the state of fragility of his colleagues.
"In the teachers' room, we realize the gloomy environment: we all have the impression of being in the dark, of not having any information and of being taken aback all the time like today" hui, ”he adds.
A lack of transparency which goes hand in hand with a crying deficit of means, estimates the professor: “We see pupils who, for the sake of economy, wear the same mask all week.
The stock provided by the rectorate is not sufficient.
How do you want to curb the epidemic if the class remains open, but without additional resources?
"
"A betrayal of families and teachers"
Likewise, the ministry's announcements are struggling to reassure parents.
“These changes of mind in two weeks are messy.
We come to wonder what the government is really looking for, ”underlines Jean-Yves Guéant, president of the Federation of Parents' Councils of Students (FCPE) in the North.
For others, these “announcement effects” are only intended to “hide contamination in schools”.
“As parents, we can hardly believe it: as the variants progress, we decide discreetly and without any official communication, to lighten the protocol and keep the classes open.
It is a betrayal vis-à-vis families and teachers, ”says Elisa *, a member of the Ecole et Familles oubliées collective.
Aware of the many school dropouts observed during the first confinement, the executive repeated that it wanted to avoid the closures of establishments at all costs.
To date, 1,599 classes and 103 school structures no longer welcome students due to cases of Covid-19, according to the Ministry of National Education.
"And how many more should close?"
»Asks Elisa.
“Many argue, and rightly so, that classes should be maintained for the sake of equality.
It is an extremely important issue, it is true.
But let's face the truth: in some departments where the situation is critical, families who may not send their children to school are already doing so, and those who have no choice are taking them, ”slips this mother of family.
Thus, the mayor of the city of Dunkirk, Patrice Vergriete assured Monday to France Bleu Nord, expect that a "certain number of families do not put (their children)" in school because of the progression of the English variant in the town.
The situation has "deteriorated sharply in recent days" in the city of the North with "an incidence rate of 515 cases per 100,000 inhabitants against 384 a week ago", according to the prefecture, which nevertheless maintains the establishments open .
“Whether we are in a region under pressure or not, as parents, we necessarily ask ourselves the question: are we putting our family at risk by letting the little one go to class?
Living with this fear every day is not easy, ”insists Elisa.
"It is not enough to break the thermometer to lower the fever"
Aude is also apprehensive, a nursery school teacher in Salons-de-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône) and member of the SNUIpp-FSU union.
If this forty-something does not fear the closure of her class, she is worried to see the virus circulating between (very) young children.
“Screening is not recommended for children under 11, although the situation should change with saliva tests.
The virus can therefore circulate in kindergarten without our knowing it.
Especially since barrier gestures cannot be implemented in toddlers ”.
When she has doubts about certain students, Aude suggests that parents take a test.
“However, you cannot coerce anyone,” she adds.
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In this context, the teacher wonders about the motivations for such a relaxation: "Do we want to reduce the protocol because the risk of contamination is lower or ... to lower the numbers for closing establishments?"
However, the proliferation of the virus seems to be accelerating.
For me, the government refuses to see contamination in schools.
It's a shame, because it is not enough to break the thermometer to lower the fever, ”she concludes.
* The first name has been changed