School year to be concluded early

“The school year 2019-2020 will be concluded early,” said Natasia Bennanon, director at the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, on Friday. At a previous press briefing officials had announced that the summer vacation would start on September 1.

The Education director made it clear that the school year can still be saved and explained that the ministry is almost finished with the plans for the primary, secondary junior level and senior level schools. “The lessons that still had to be taught can be given in the next grade,” said Director Bennanon who added that officials are still looking at the options for the exam classes. “One must first get the students in the classrooms before one can continue,” said the director before explaining that officials are looking at the entire COVID-19 situation and the lockdown before taking the next step.

Bennanon pointed out that it had been announced that students would automatically go to the next ‘phase’ but that this would be based on state test results. “That is why students must participate with distance education. The students must get a mark at the end of the school year and this will determine if a student can or can’t go to the next grade. On the primary school, officials will look the results of the first and second semester on all levels. Students who meet the requirements will go to the next grade immediately while those with lower performance will be pulled across the line.

Bennanon explained that the exam classes are preparing to go to a next level which is why exams are important. The ministry still can’t elaborate on what will happen with this group because everything depends on the current situation.