In China, today, Monday February 13, is the start of the new school year for 300 million schoolchildren and teachers (primary and middle school) after the long Lunar New Year holidays and the “zero-Covid” restrictions. last year. Many have not seen their comrades and colleagues for several months.
With our correspondent in Beijing, Stephane Lagarde
Photographers made the trip this morning to a primary school in the center of the Chinese capital. “Click clack! “. The local press immortalizes this return to the school benches after long weeks of absence. To the delight of this pupil’s mother: “ There was no class at the end of last year, but this year it’s back to normal. We stayed too long at home on the computer. The children were happy, but for the parents it hurts the head “, she says.
Two million schoolchildren and college students reunited with their classmates on Monday according to Beijing Youth Daily. A particular spring start, because it is the first after the lifting of the “zero-Covid” policy. The most relaxed in three years: music in the schoolyard, masks are still required, but some teachers clap the hands of parents and the sky has turned blue.
“ We are happy today, the weather is nice. There’s music, it’s great. It was a long time ago ? Three months that we have had no class », rejoices Tae-oh
Three months without face-to-face school
After nearly three months without face-to-face school, some of the youngest had almost gotten used to it. ” At school, we can play with friends, but lessons at home are more comfortable, because we get up later “says a little girl.
At the neighborhood school stationery, the smile also returned to the saleswoman. “ The store is full, school has resumed, we are happy “, she rejoices.
There are a lot of people in the street also confirms a traffic officer in a fluorescent vest, headset microphone and small loudspeaker attached to the belt to help pedestrians cross. ” The whole neighborhood is coming back to life “, he confides. This Monday, the municipality has put in place the alternating circulation according to even and odd license plates in an attempt to lighten the traffic jams.
►Also read : Covid-19 in China: messenger RNA vaccines offered free of charge to French nationals