The start of the school year is approaching, and as current events remind us, it will occur under health alert conditions with mask-wearing mandatory for students aged 11 and over. Therefore, as the authority responsible for middle schools, the Departmental Council is at the forefront to ensure the smooth running of the school start and educational activities.
The health protocol published by the Minister of National Education places the responsibility on parents to equip their children with masks.
This decision has sparked opposing views and, to put it another way, has been politically exploited.
At the forefront, Eric Ciotti, Chairman of the Finance Commission of the Alpes-Maritimes Department: “I reiterate my request to the State for the provision of free masks, which are now mandatory health tools for those aged 11 and over. Socially vulnerable families cannot and should not bear this cost. […]”
The Minister of National Education, in his pre-school start conference, indirectly responded to the challenging controversy: “The executive confirms the decision not to provide free health masks to students, except for the most disadvantaged.”
Socially vulnerable or disadvantaged, will that be sufficient?
In any case, and what matters is that the Department will distribute two washable fabric masks to each student in both private and public middle schools.
“An action that will allow our young people to return to classes safely and with peace of mind,” commented Charles-Ange Ginésy, president of the Departmental Council.
