Strongly attacked for his management of the Covid-19 crisis in National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer was the guest of BFMTV on Tuesday to defend the new health protocol in force in schools, relaxed Monday evening by Jean Castex, after many trial and error.
From Friday, students with contact cases will be able to do three self-tests reimbursed to return to school, confirmed the Minister of National Education.
He specifies that from Thursday, parents will no longer have to pick up their children as soon as a case is detected in class, but at the end of the school day.
This new protocol is the latest in a series of changes experienced by teachers as “mess”.
Twice, Jean-Michel Blanquer changed the instructions, drawing the wrath of the teaching staff.
"Circumstances force us to adapt," said the minister, referring to "complex processes" and a "serious crisis" which involve decisions at the last moment.
Making life easier for families and school directors
To justify the new protocol adjustment in schools, Jean-Michel Blanquer calls into question the number of tests carried out in pharmacy last week.
"The big flaw in the situation last week is that there were fewer tests than expected in pharmacies," he said, regretting the waiting time before being tested.
“We had the idea of making life easier for families and primary school administrators,” says Jean-Michel Blanquer, who also counts “10,000 closed classes” and “50,000 students infected with Covid-19”.
“Île-de-France is much more affected than the rest of the country,” added the minister.
Minister recognizes "problems"
"We are the country of the open school, unlike many countries"?
rejoiced Jean-Michel Blanquer.
Faithful to the line defended since the beginning of the epidemic, the author of “Open School” recognizes however that there could have been “problems” with the instructions, considered incomprehensible by many teachers.
While many unions called for a strike on Thursday, Jean-Michel Blanquer believes that "the general interest is that children go to school": "It is a pity that there is a day that further disturbs the system (…) you don't go on strike against a virus, ”he lamented.
He called for "serenity and unity around the school", while there is "a lot of fatigue and nervousness" among teachers, he notes.
"I appeal to cold blood," he added.