Many mayors believe that their establishments will not have the means to guarantee the safety and health of students and teams.
The closer the date of May 11, the greater the concern among elected officials. They are more and more likely to deplore a lack of means and health guarantees for this recovery and some would prefer that their schools keep closed doors.
Some did not wait for the Prime Minister’s speech on Tuesday, April 28 in the National Assembly, to announce their decision. This is the case of the PCF mayor of Stains (Seine-Saint-Denis). This Tuesday, Azzédine Taïbi says he is very worried, he confirms that in his town, schools will not reopen on May 11. He thinks “not to be able” to guarantee the safety of children but also of teachers and municipal staff. “I don’t want to endanger the lives of our children” and take the risk of “create a situation of a return of the epidemic within the school”, arguamente t-il.
The recovery on May 11: a problem that transcends political divisions
In a letter sent to the prefect of Seine-Saint-Denis and to National Education, eight centrist mayors of Seine-Saint-Denis (Bobigny, Drancy, Le Raincy, Saint-Ouen, Noisy-le-Sec, Livry-Gargan, Le Bourget, Coubron) explain that their nursery schools and nurseries “will remain closed until September”.
Letter from the elected centrists sent to the prefect of Seine-Saint-Denis and to National Education
In this letter, elected officials say they are fully aware of the need for a gradual exit from confinement but issue three conditions for the resumption of reception in class and nursery in their municipalities. “The first of its conditions and that all adult staff lead to work in our schools, teachers, municipal staff or staff of private companies be tested beforehand and then regularly for coronavirus” ,“that children and staff have access to masks” and finally “that the rules of distancing are respected” they explain.
“The opening of a school engages the public authorities”
Elected officials are increasing their positions. So in a column published in the JDD, local elected officials on the left are alerting to the specific issues of deconfinement in the Ile-de-France region. At the initiative of this forum, Céline Malaisé, president of the Left Front group in the IDF region and teacher in a Parisian college, explains that concerning the resumption of the school “the main thing is to guarantee the health safety of staff and children”. “The establishments must not become epidemic centers and the children of the vectors of transmission of the virus in the families”. “We need an action plan including guarantees on the maintenance of the premises and the supply of masks, gowns, gloves and tests because the opening of a school engages the public authorities”. “It is only under these conditions that it is possible to open schools”, she concludes.
The Scientific Council recommends a start in September
Elected officials rely on the advice of scientists. Many people recall the recommendation of the Scientific Council, which in an opinion published on April 20, recommends a start in September:
“In the current state of knowledge at the epidemic level, the risk of severe forms is low in this population. The risk of individual contagiousness in young children is uncertain, but appears low. Conversely, the risk of transmission is high. in the places of massive regrouping that are the schools and the universities, with barrier measures particularly difficult to implement among the youngest. Consequently, the Scientific Council proposes to maintain the nurseries, the schools, the colleges, the high schools and universities closed until September “, is it specified in the text.
This Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s speech on the deconfinement strategy was eagerly awaited by parents, teachers and also elected officials. At the National Assembly, Edouard Philippe gave some answers: kindergartens and elementary schools will reopen in a “very progressive” way, “everywhere on the territory and on a voluntary basis”. The nurseries will be reopened from May 11 with groups of 10 children maximum and “there will be no wearing of masks for three-year-old children”. Finally, the reopening of high schools will be decided at the end of May.
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