“
Keeping schools open is my deep conviction.
“Despite the resurgence of cases of Covid-19 in France, Jean-Michel Blanquer wants to do everything to perpetuate the education of children and adolescents in France.
The Ministry of National Education on Monday February 1 tightened its health protocol from kindergarten to high school, leading to several major changes supposed to slow down the epidemic.
Read also: Schools: American researchers plead for keeping classes open
The detection of a variant results in the closing of a class
"
The reference scheme is that of face-to-face teaching for all pupils
", explains the protocol in the preamble.
In high school, “
hybrid
”
courses
can be delivered when “
this is necessary
”.
Few distance courses, therefore, for primary and secondary students, who will have to apply "
strict security conditions
".
To read also: Antoine Compagnon: "The bac as the school diploma are no longer useful"
On the other hand, the variants change the situation.
In the event of contamination due to a variant in a primary, college or high school class, this class will be closed.
Three contaminations were previously necessary to cause this measure.
The number of closed classes could then explode.
Faced with "
a suspicion of a variant
", the closure decision "
must be assessed on a case-by-case basis
(by)
the ARS, the Rectorate, the head of the establishment and the Prefecture
", specifies the protocol.
In kindergarten, a single case of Covid-19, from a variant or not, will now suffice to close the class, adds Europe 1. If three positive cases are detected in a single class, the supervisors will automatically be declared as contact cases.
The obligatory category 1 mask
Wearing the “
category 1
”
mask
(and not category 2, which is less effective) is compulsory for staff and students, with the exception of nursery school children for whom it is “
prohibited
”.
In kindergarten, a distance of one meter is compulsory between pupils of different groups, but not within the same class.
In elementary, college or high school, physical distancing applies regardless of the circumstances ... except outside for students of the same group.
Also, the ventilation of classrooms must now be done every hour, for a few minutes, and no longer every two hours.
Read also: In fabric, surgical or FFP2: which masks to trust against Covid-19?
In the canteen, the recommendations differ.
In the first stage, "
the pupils of the same class have lunch together while maintaining a distance of at least two meters from those of the other classes
".
With regard to middle and high school students, when respecting the distance of two meters between students is “
materially impossible
”, students from the same group should be given lunch together.
Two meters should separate each group.
The aim is to limit the mixing of the virus.
"
The implementation of the two-meter distance between classes in the first degree and between groups in the second degree must be put in place no later than February 8, 2021
", specifies the protocol.
The tables must be cleaned and disinfected, at
a minimum
, after each service and, if possible, after each meal.