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COVID19: Cyprus school year will be completed

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The COVID-19-ravaged Cyprus school year will be completed one way or another to ensure school leavers have the necessary qualifications to continue their further education or job careers, said Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou.

He told CNA, there will be solutions for children to continue school and for graduates to achieve a credible school leaving certificate to compete for positions at state universities in Cyprus and Greece.

“As we get a clearer picture of how things develop, with the data provided by the government advisors and epidemiologists, we will be able to announce how the rest of the year will be completed,” Prodromou said.

The Minister held a teleconference with parents’ associations and said the discussions were constructive with useful suggestions.

He also informed parents on the course of online education and support as well as the next steps.

Prodromou urged teachers to continue providing educational support to children during the next two weeks which are part of the Easter holiday.

“It is important to maintain communication and a sense that teachers are standing by the children.”

Schools and universities were closed following the coronavirus outbreak in Cyprus on March 9.

Regarding planning, he said as the days go by, we will have a clearer picture and with the data provided by the government’s advisors and epidemiologists, we will be able to announce how the rest of the school year will continue.

School leavers will be examined for the material they have covered until 13 March.

“We will provide solutions for the children’s school career and for graduates to claim positions at state universities in Cyprus and Greece on equal terms with credible procedures.”

The minister assured parents, that children in elementary education will get continued support.

Asked if planning will be disrupted if the exams for entry to the Greek universities take place in September, Prodromou said: “we don’t have planning for September”.

“The effort is to prepare the exams before enlistment of new National Guard conscripts.”