Covid-19 and back to school: tests, vaccine, health pass… What should we remember from Blanquer’s announcements? – South West

Less than a week before the start of the school year, scheduled for September 2, Jean-Michel Blanquer detailed this Thursday, during a press conference, the return to class of 12.4 million students. A new start to the school year marked by the health crisis but which is intended to be as normal as possible.

While the return of current students has been postponed to September 13 in Guadeloupe and Martinique, “There was no reason to postpone the start of the school year” in metropolitan France, reassured the Minister of National Education. Same story a little earlier in the morning from Jean Castex on RTL. The Prime Minister said that “there is no reason to consider that schools should be closed”.

The use of CO2 sensors “encouraged”

Sunday, Jean-Michel Blanquer had already indicated that the sanitary protocol adopted was that of level 2 (yellow), out of a total of four. According to these rules, a case of Covid-19 in a classroom in the primary sector results in a shutdown, as in June. In middle and high school, in the event of contamination in a classroom, only students with unvaccinated contact cases will have to isolate themselves for a week.

This Thursday, the minister recalled the pillars on which the management of the epidemic is based. Barrier gestures will be one of the key elements of this new year: hand washing, wearing a mask from primary school, opening windows, etc.

On this subject of the ventilation of classrooms, Blanquer spoke about the case of C02 sensors, claimed by certain health professionals. “We encourage their use, but they are not at the center of the fight against the epidemic. But they can have an educational virtue ”, estimates the minister who recalled that their installation was the competence of the local communities. The same goes for air purifiers, “even if since the start of the crisis, the health authorities have asked us to exercise judgment on this subject”, recalled the Minister. “They can be interesting if there are no windows in the classroom. “

Ephemeral vaccination centers

A second pillar concerns the “Test, alert and protect” process. It will manifest itself in massive tests in the first degree. The ministry’s stated goal is 600,000 saliva tests per week. In the second level, the pupils will again have the possibility of doing antigenic tests or self-tests. In addition, two self-tests will be provided each week to adults working in the school system.

But the main stake lies in the vaccination for those over 12 years old. A “new asset” which will bring “more serenity” for this return, judged Jean-Michel Blanquer who recalled that “57% of 12-17 year olds are already vaccinated”. The campaign should further accelerate thanks to the installation of ephemeral centers in establishments or near colleges and high schools from the start of the school year.

As for teachers, 78% of them have completed their vaccination schedule, 11% are preparing to receive a second dose, according to an Ipsos survey.

The health pass for a few school trips

The Minister of National Education has again confirmed that the health pass would not be necessary to go to class. He also mentioned its use in case of school trips. It will not be compulsory if the outing – to the museum, to the swimming pool, etc. – takes place on a reserved school time slot. On the other hand, it will be if the pupils are mixed with the rest of the population.

Increases for teachers

Jean-Michel Blanquer also welcomed the fact that the health crisis did not prevent the completion of the reforms initiated for National Education. Among them, the duplication of classes of CP and CE1 in priority education, the reform of the vocational high school, of general and technological education with in particular the implementation of the Grand oral in the baccalaureate, the fight against harassment, sport in the school, Pass culture… Finally, the minister confirmed the salary increase for teachers after meeting the unions on Wednesday. “For 2021 and 2022, 1.5 billion euros have been injected for the purchasing power of teachers,” he recalled. A young professor, who earned until 2020, 1,700 euros per month, should now receive 1,869 euros. “These are substantial increases that are intended to be continued,” announced Blanquer. “The goal that we must set is that there is not a single professor from France who earns less than 2000 euros net per month. ”