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France's 5,500 high-schools will be receiving excerpts of Claude Lanzmann's film Shoah on DVD this week as part of the efforts to combat racism and anti-Semitism, Education Minister François Fillon announced.

Along with the movie, schools will also receive 250,000 copies of a Guide républicain [or guide to Republican values], which comprises a list of texts, films and songs celebrating the values of the Republic, according to the Ministry of Education.

François Fillon announced the initiative during a visit to the Lycée Sophie-Germain, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, accompanied by Claude Lanzmann. The movie director called the step part of the long-term action against racism and anti-Semitism.

At the same time, the ministers for education, the interior and justice signed a circular on preventing and recording racist and anti-Semitic acts in schools, and on punishing violations.

The text aims to improve reaction in the various services by introducing simple, quick procedures in each school district and providing for better coordination with State services.

"A racist or anti-Semitic act must be reported to the public prosecutor and school district authorities immediately," it says in the circular.

It requires the victims to be informed of their rights and given counseling. School principals will also have to meet with "the parties involved and their family" without in any way "prejudicing the conduct of the criminal investigation."

The Ministry of the Interior is also to issue a procedural guide for use by police officers and gendarmes./.