If the protocols have indeed been published by the Ministry of National Education, parents of students and teachers still have questions about their implementation. Regular meetings with the rectorate are planned in order to adapt to various situations
The back to school 2021 will not be a shipment in unknown land. Throughout the past school year, families and teachers have adapted to the various constraints generated by the pandemic. The protocols – with their different levels of restrictions – have been published for several weeks by the services of the Ministry of Education. However, it was not until the speech of Jean-Michel Blanquer in the JDD, ten days before the start of the school year, to be sure that all of mainland France – and therefore Corsica – would be classified as level 2.
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At the end of last week, the rector, Julie Benetti, held a meeting with the teachers’ unions and the representatives of the parents of pupils. Explanation meeting rather than consultation elsewhere.
“Eviction” poses a problem
For parents and teachers, there is a concern about the measures to be adopted for pupils in contact cases. In elementary school, the measures are simple: close the class as soon as a student tests positive.
For secondary school, on the other hand, the procedure is more complex. College and high school students who will be contact cases will have to isolate themselves. An unfortunate word from the ministry even spoke “foreclosure”. However, doubly vaccinated middle school and high school students will not be considered as contact cases. Knowing that it is the parents who must declare whether or not their child is vaccinated.
For Claude Perrin, of the FCPE (Federation of parents’ councils), the declarative side leaves something of a doubt. Above all, he is a little worried about the continuity of teaching.
“I don’t really know how the teachers are going to be able to simultaneously teach their courses at a distance and in their class”, asks the representative of the parents of the students.
A position shared by the representative of Snalc (National Union of high schools and colleges), Pierre-Dominique Ramacciotti.
“The teachers had adapted to the half-gauge. But there, on a case-by-case basis, it will be complicated. Especially since most establishments do not have the equipment that would allow distance learning in good conditions “, he remarks.
This distinguish between vaccinated and unvaccinated raises all the more questions “normally, when you wear a mask, you are no longer considered as a contact case”.
More nuanced, Pascale Ortoli of the FSU (Unitary Union Federation) wants to hear the explanations of the rector who assures that unvaccinated students should stay at home “for their own protection”.
However, she wonders about the part of the protocol which says that at level 2, wearing a mask is not compulsory in the playgrounds. “while it is mandatory on the street in Ajaccio and Bastia in particular.”
The representative of the APC (Associu di i parenti corsi), Denis Luciani, finds, like all parents and teachers, that the meetings arrive late and that, decidedly, the consultation is not the strong point of the National education.
“The vaccination of children is very agitating, it will not help a serene return to school”, he remarks.
CO2 sensors waiting
Another point of concern in the school community: ventilation of the premises.
CO sensors2 which should allow everyone to realize whether the atmosphere is healthy or not are, for the moment, in place nowhere.
“You must request it”, remarks Denis Luciani (APC) who regrets that education has not been included in the government’s recovery plan.
“It is necessary that the establishments make the request near the Collectivity of Corsica. The rectorate has promised that it would abound if the CdC can not provide the establishments”, adds Pascale Ortoli (FSU).
Claude Perrin (FCPE) specifies for his part that this request “has been worn for months by the FCPE”. He adds that we must also be concerned with extracurricular time (canteens, daycare, etc.).
For his part, Pierre-Dominique Ramacciotti (Snalc) would also like us to focus on tests (saliva tests for the youngest, self-tests for adolescents and adults).
He sums up the sentiment of most teachers and parents: “There is no real consultation. Decisions fall from above, vertically and, on the ground, we do our best.”
The good news for the start of the school year is that there will be – for the moment at least – neither health pass nor compulsory vaccination in school as a rumor had suggested.
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