French schools grapple with social distancing

French schools grapple with social distancing

Lunch from a distance and face masks in classrooms. How are French schools adapting to strict sanitary protocols?

Emer McCarthy reports.

At lunchtime, the canteen of the Val de Beaute primary school near Paris is usually bustling with chatter as young pupils savour their meals.

But sitting at least a metre apart with only two friends per table, the cafeteria noise is lower than usual.

According to the Ministry of Education, two weeks after France's lockdown started easing-- 22% of elementary school students have gone back to school.

But the 54-page long guide to sanitary protocol launched by French authorities has meant that only 16% of this school's pupils can currently go to class.

The school's director says the reduction in students from 426 to 68 is 'frustrating'.

This week, the French Federation of Child Psychiatrists advocated for more students being welcomed back to school to fight social inequality.

The country's Prime Minister Edouard Philippe also announced on Thursday an "acceleration" of the reopening of all schools in "green" zones, where the virus has been better contained.

But the frustration may linger for a while yet- as the Education Minister told France Info radio on Friday (May 29) the sanitary rules are here to stay until at least September.