are schools at risk of closing?

On the eve of a third looming reconfinement, the government is looking into closing schools amid extended school holidays. A solution that the Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, is not considering.

This Thursday, January 28, the Government Spokesman spoke at a press briefing on new avenues to stem the crisis of Covid-19 and its variants. After indicating that the curfew from 6 p.m. was not enough, he spoke of the closure of schools after the February school holidays, which could be extended by one or two weeks in all areas.

However, the Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer does not see it that way. He would be against closing schools to minimize learning gaps. Invited on France 2, Jean-Michel Blanquer defended the opening of schools, because it was still necessary "demonstrate that school holidays are less contaminating than the school period". "It cannot be taken for granted. I notice that when you return from the All Saints holidays, like the Christmas holidays, you have an epidemic curve that rises in the ten days that follow", he emphasizes. "The contaminations came from the family environment, in social life, much more than inside the school", he concluded.

Social issues for children

For its part, the scientific council affirms that schools can remain open, in particular for social reasons. "The English data which initially suggested that the English variant was more transmissible in schools and children did not convince us", he said. "This is the reason why (…) we recommended, including with variants, the continued opening of schools, because there are other issues (…) which are issues societal and in particular for children who come from the most fragile or socially disadvantaged classes ”, indicated Jean-François Delfraissy, chairman of the board.

A situation that should quickly be clarified by the government, as the school holidays approach.

Suruthi SRIKUMAR

Suruthi is a writer specializing in parenting for the Aufeminin, Parole de Mamans and Avis de Mamans websites.
She is also Community Manager for the social networks Facebook and Instagram of Aufeminin …