On Wednesday, the Public Health Authority allowed the taking place of graduation exams, as well as final post-secondary examinations for secondary-school students in both full-time and part-time study programs. Admission exams for high schools and universities may take place too. The Ministry of Education is now looking into the technical application of these measures within individual schools, as to whether they are able to comply with the obligations imposed on them by the Health Authority. There are 690 schools concerned by the measures.
"The measures speak of disinfection, face protection, keeping a two-meter distance. In addition, the examinations should be carried out in the largest classrooms and both students and committee members will have their temperatures taken before the start," explained the Education Minister Branislav Gröhling on Wednesday, after the meeting of the crisis management team. According to Gröhling, schools should approach this situation with "an open mind" and creativity.
"Let's rethink the different forms of school-leaving exams. We have to consider changing the content as well as the form of the exam. I personally think that Slovakia will for the first time have graduations as no one has had before," stated the Minister.
The Ministry of Education also plans to present a new package of laws on the functioning of universities in times of pandemics. The dates and forms of university exams will be announced next week.
