'We are ready to close all schools'
Lessons could be aired on TV and radio in the event of swine flu outbreak in September, says minister.
EVERY school in France could be closed if swine flu becomes a nationwide pandemic, the education minister has revealed.
In an interview with Le Figaro, Luc Chatel said the government was "preparing for every eventuality".
Ministers will meet later today to agree on a procedure for school closures ahead of the rentrée at the beginning of September.
The final decision on whether to close a school will rest with the local préfet in consultation with the education authorities and headteachers.
"There is no fixed threshold for deciding whether to close a school. We will look at it on a case-by-case basis," Chatel said.
"In the event of a total pandemic, if the circumstances demand, we are ready to close all the schools."
The Centre National d'Education à Distance has spent the summer producing a series of educational TV and radio programmes that will be broadcast on France 5 and Radio France in the event of widespread school closures.
Basic guidelines have already been sent to all recteurs - regional heads of education - on what to do if there is a swine flu outbreak in a school.
The government is also preparing to distribute 12 million copies of a four-page brochure to parents, explaining the hygiene precautions that children need to take.
Vaccinations expert Professor Daniel Floret has predicted that half of the population could be hit by swine flu.
The French Hospital Federation has warned that there is not enough money in this year’s budget to deal with a full outbreak.
The group is asking the government to find additional funds, similar to those provided during the 2003 heatwave.
