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France: Distance Learning planned for swine flu
France equips itself with an extraordinary measure for the pig flu: Should it become necessary to close schools due to the flu, the lessons could be continued with the help of radio and television. The government, in cooperation with the National Center for Distance Learning are developing appropriate teaching modules to be broadcasted in the event of an emergency, said Education Minister Luc Chatel on Wednesday. Currently, closure of schools is "not on the agenda," said Chatel the radio station France-Info. The new school year will begin as scheduled.
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Re: France: Distance Learning planned for swine flu
France ready to close all schools to combat swine flu
Wednesday 12 August 2009
France's ministry of education is considering closing all schools in the event of a major swine flu outbreak in September. Authorities are also currently working on distance-learning material to help students who may be forced to stay at home. Wednesday 12 August 2009
AFP - France's minister of education is ready to close all of the country's schools in the event of a major swine flu outbreak, a local newspaper reported on Wednesday.
"In case of a complete pandemic we are ready to close all of the schools in France," Luc Chatel was quoted as saying by Le Figaro, a Paris-based daily.
"No threshold has been fixed for the closing of a school. It will be adapted on a case-by-case basis," said the minister.
Chatel added that the mass vaccination of children was not yet an issue.
French authorities have, over the summer, worked on distance learning materials that can be broadcast on television, radio and the Internet to help students forced to stay home keep up with their classes, he added.
France has recorded around one thousand swine flu infections and one death, but authorities are concerned the resumption of school will fuel a sharp acceleration in the spread of the virus.
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