A month after the start of the school year, major changes will take effect at the school next week.
The Covid-19 epidemic appears to be under control for now, with an incidence rate declining for at least two weeks in all age groups in children and adolescents.
But it remains higher than for the entire population, and the onset of winter increases the risk of epidemic resumption.
If some upcoming novelties were already known, others were unveiled on Tuesday by the Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer.
We take stock.
Massive screening in the slightest positive case
The main announcement of the day aims to limit class closures.
At present, in primary (nursery and elementary), the rule is simple: the class is closed at the slightest positive case.
The epidemic at school "is on a downward curve" with "less than 2000 closed classes" (2366 at the last official count), said Jean-Michel Blanquer on Tuesday on France Info.
To reduce this number, an experiment will be launched "in ten departments, probably from the beginning of next week".
It consists of testing all the students in a class if one of them is detected positive.
Only those who were in turn positive, as well as those who refused to be tested, would be required to stay at home to attend school while the others could still attend.
Almost no class would then be closed in these territories, the precise list of which must be announced in the coming days.
But this change in strategy will force teachers to adapt to this hybrid education.
Read alsoRegular anti-Covid tests at school: these countries that could inspire France
This experiment echoes the recommendations of the Scientific Council, in an opinion delivered to the government on September 13.
Except that the experts recommended above all to test regularly (at least once a week) the students at school, and to "send" home those who tested positive.
We are far from it for the moment since less than 200,000 saliva tests are carried out per week in schools (college and high school included), far from the objective of 600,000 set by Jean-Michel Blanquer.
Localized end of the mask at school
Gabriel Attal announced it last week: from next Monday, the mask will no longer be compulsory for students in the departments where the epidemic is the least virulent. This is the main change in moving from level 2 to level 1 of the health protocol, which will be triggered in areas where the incidence rate (all ages combined) has been below 50 for “at least 5 days”.
A little less than half of the French departments, mainly located in the northern half and on the southwest coast of the country, will be affected and the precise list will be unveiled on Thursday.
The professors could also be authorized to fall the mask in these territories (an arbitration is expected in the coming days).
"It will be interesting to be able to compare from one department to another the effect of this type of experiment," said Jean-Michel Blanquer.
Health pass for teens
This novelty only concerns adolescents, but the health pass becomes compulsory from Thursday for young people aged at least 12 years and 2 months.
As for adults since August 9, they must be vaccinated, have a negative test less than 72 hours or have been positive between 6 months and 11 days earlier to be able to go to a restaurant, to the cinema, or to take the train. .
Almost two out of three adolescents aged 12 to 17 are now fully vaccinated, so the others will have to fend for themselves.
The pass will also apply to sports activities, except those organized in schools.
Mandatory health pass for teenagers: "For sports activities, the health pass will apply, indoors and outdoors, except in schools", announces Jean-Michel Blanquer pic.twitter.com/uG3FpWuerU
- franceinfo (@franceinfo) September 28, 2021
According to Jean-Michel Blanquer, this entry into force will lead to a strong incentive to be vaccinated for adolescents who are still hesitant… or for their parents, the agreement of one of them being necessary up to the age of 16.
As for the tests among minors, Jean Castex had hinted Monday that they will all remain free after October 15.
The Minister of National Education seemed less categorical on Tuesday concerning those known as “comfort” (for example to be able to go to the cinema if one is not vaccinated), but Matignon confirms to us that they too will remain reimbursed by Social Security and therefore free.
