Schoolchildren leave a school in Paris watched by police officers.
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The ministers said most security measures put in place after the November 13 attack in Paris such as carrying out anti-terror drills in schools will be ramped up to three from two during the school year.
All students aged 13 to 14 and class representatives will also receive basic training on life-saving measures.
“This clears the way for racist slogans”, she said in a radio interview on Thursday, hours before France’s top administrative court, the Council of State, was to examine the ban imposed by local councils in some 30 coastal communities. The measures include children in pre-school and kindergarten, aged 2 to 6, playing “le roi du silence” – silence reigns – games in which they are taught to hide and keep quiet, while not mentioning an attack or danger.
Cazeneuve said the plan aims to “prevent the risk of an attack and at the same time guarantee a calm atmosphere in schools”.
After the country’s 12 million pupils begin a new term on September 1, their schools will be required to hold three exercises a year including one based on the scenario of an attack with at least one terrorist inside the building. Some police forces patrol in school areas and parents and students are requested to avoid gathering near schools and systematically report any suspicious behaviour or object.
France already increased its security forces around Jewish schools and places of worship after Islamist attacks that killed 17 people in January previous year at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and at a Jewish supermarket.
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The government has also chose to provide €50m (£42.5m) to local councils – which are in charge of school buildings – to help pay for security equipment such as video door phones and new alarm systems.
