Two thirds of parents against French schools reopening

The poll found that 67% of parents believe the gradual reopening of schools is a bad idea.

The findings come just three days after the Minister of Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, revealed the government’s plan.

In a blow to the government’s proposals, 64% of parents will refuse to send at least one child back to school, with 48% declaring they will not send any of their children back, the survey by Odoxa-Dentsu Consulting for news website Franceinfo and newspaper Le Figaro* revealed.

More than half (55%) are also concerned that social distancing and other health measures, such as the provision of hand sanitiser to restrict the spread of Covid-19, will not be followed.

When announcing the plans, the minister also gave parents the option of not sending their children back to school and to maintain remote learning.

This option was supported by 82% of those surveyed.

The decision to limit class sizes to a maximum of 15 pupils was welcomed by 72% of respondents but 58% do not think that will be maintained.

There is also general scepticism (60%) that the motives behind the reopening of the schools was to get parents back into work and the economy moving.

*This Odoxa-Dentsu Consulting survey for Franceinfo and Le Figaro was carried out online on April 22 and 23, 2020, on a sample of 1,005 French people representative of the French population aged 18 and over.