This Monday, June 15, the Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer announced a new, simplified health protocol for the start of the school year on June 22.
During his televised address this Sunday, Emmanuel Macron confirmed the start of the school year for children from crèche to 3rd grade in a "compulsory" manner, from Monday 22 June. This recovery will take place with the help of a reduction in the health protocol in schools. Indeed, since the beginning of deconfinement, the very strict protocol only allowed to welcome a maximum of 15 students per class in primary schools. Also, schoolchildren were not able to play together, neither in class nor during recess because they had to maintain a safety distance of at least one meter.
Invited to Europe 1 this Monday, June 15, Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer announced the reduction of this health protocol and the end of the "4m2" rules between each student. "Two weeks is very important, every day counts. Children need to go to school", insisted the Minister first. Consequently, "yes, the health protocol will be reduced", with a new version presented "tomorrow" (Tuesday) he said. The main change will be "that of the physical distance, which forced to make small groups of 15 pupils. From now on, there is always a physical distance but much less constraining, with a lateral meter between the pupils", then detailed Jean-Michel Blanquer.
A lightening of the protocol which seems to delight Marie Poulhalec, teacher in kindergarten class, who is very confident for this recovery. "Even if we kept the link during confinement, I think it's good for the children to reconnect with the comrades for their mental well-being. Going back to school, seeing friends again is very positive. It is important that he finds a certain normalcy ", says Marie.
End of the quota of 15 students per class
To limit the risk of contamination, certain measures will always be maintained such as barrier gestures, regular hand washing and hydroalcoholic gel available everywhere in establishments. However, the quota of 15 students per class will be lifted. "We thus move from 4m2 around each student to a more flexible system. This allows us to accommodate more students", said Jean-Michel Blanquer.
While pupils were previously forbidden to play together during recess, from June 22, schoolchildren will be able to resume their old habits again. "There will be no more distance in the playgrounds, I think it will be easier for children to live on a daily basis", confides the teacher. Nevertheless, a doubt remains about the capacity of the classes. "I don't know if they can all be in the same space at the same time, maybe there will be a rotation system and it won't be like before", worries Marie.
But the teacher puts things into perspective, "It’s important to say goodbye, see you next year, in September!" For the children and the whole teaching staff, it is essential to mark the end of this fuzzy period to find themselves in good shape in a new school cycle!