High temperatures will once again disrupt the end of France’s school year. The national weather service Météo-France issued an orange-level heatwave alert in 84 departments (out of 101), with temperatures expected to range from 34°C to 40°C between Monday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 2. Nearly 200 schools will be partially or fully closed at the start of the week, at the decision of municipal authorities. However, Education Minister Elisabeth Borne ruled out advancing the start of summer break, currently set for July 5. Speaking on the channel France 3, she called on Sunday for “case-by-case management” depending on the area, with school district heads and prefects taking the lead. “It’s not an order from [the Education Ministry] that will solve the issue,” said the former prime minister.
Borne, advocating for “pragmatism” and “flexibility,” nevertheless sent instructions to school district heads on Sunday to “remind them of the guidelines” in place during periods of extreme heat. Primary school students still have a week of classes left, while in middle and high schools, classes have largely ended due to exams or grading periods. Students in the penultimate year of high school are taking their French oral exams through July 4, while leavers have their final oral exams through July 2.
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