France aims to reopen schools amid lingering COVID-19 concerns

France is aiming to reopen all schools for the new academic year under as 'normal' conditions as possible, President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday, despite lingering virus concerns from some parents and teachers. France gradually reopened schools in May and June as the country emerged from virus lockdown, and most children returned to class. While new infections prompted a few schools to close again, the vast majority stayed open until the school year wrapped up earlier this month. 'We have learned a lot' from that period, Macron said. 'We developed a new way of teaching' to take the virus into account. France's school reopening was driven by concerns about getting parents back to work to restart the economy, as well as widespread worries about disadvantaged children who couldn't access online classes, who need special help or whose families depend on subsidized school lunches.