These are funny demonstrations that have multiplied in recent days and which the local press echoed: in Verdun (Meuse), the parents of pupils of the elementary school of Dieue-sur-Meuse laid siege to the national education inspectorate; in Coignières (Yvelines), they were at the gates of the town hall; in Bordeaux, those from the Nuyens school went to the departmental service for national education.
Reason for the anger – sometimes heard: the cancellation of the snow classes promised to children and already eliminated almost entirely in the winter of 2020-2021. The outbreak of Covid-19 cases and the great reservations of academy inspectors have got the better of many projects. Consequently, in winter sports resorts, holiday centers see cancellations and postponements cascading down. “Our centers are empty, despairs Benjamin Bouzat, who runs five structures in the Champsaur (Hautes-Alpes). Between Monday January 3 and Tuesday 4, I lost everything. “
“Some departments cancel until further notice, others until the February holidays, notes Clotilde Désarménien, coordinator of Savoie Mont Blanc Juniors, reservation center for group stays for young people in Savoie and Haute-Savoie. A few stays are maintained for the month of January, mainly private schools. However, we have a health protocol in place, hosts who are ready: it can work if people believe in it. “
“We would have preferred a ban”
National education has not formulated a ban on snow classes, “Authorized in strict compliance with the protocols applicable in the stations and in the accommodation”. She recommends “To postpone them as far as possible”. The instructions then vary according to the academies and departmental services of national education. Most opted for caution, citing the risks of contamination in school buses and class mixtures, and the difficulty of repatriating children tested positive for Covid-19.
This in-between does not suit either the directors of the establishment or the vacation centers. “We would have preferred a clear ban, declares Mme Disarmenian. Vacation centers both want to stay open and welcome groups, but if they host a little too many, they will not be eligible for aid. “
The companies that organize or receive snow classes benefit from the aid restored by the government. The associations will also be through a specific decree, assures the minister responsible for tourism. But they are only released in the event of a drastic drop in turnover – 50% minimum for compensation for operating losses, and 65% for reimbursement of short-time working.
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