Covid-19, Crisis, Education and Science, Latvia

Asked if students should return to classrooms for the last few days of the semester if the state of emergency over the Covid-19 crisis is extended for one month, the minister said that, most probably, there will be no face-to-face learning this semester. 

The minister added that the extension of the state of emergency is being planned for four weeks and that a return to "normal" education work will not happen instantly. 

As reported, the minister said already at the end of March that distance learning in Latvian general and professional schools will last, and, possibly, the usual regime will not be resumed this school year and that some students might forgo centralized national exams.

Today, however, Suplinska told lawmakers that the Ministry of Education and Science is considering going ahead with this year's centralized national examinations, particularly for graduation year students.

The minister indicated that later today she will participate in a video call with the European Union's foreign ministers to learn about the decisions taken by other member states regarding the centralized exams. Suplinska noted, however, that the ministry is inclined to hold the exams, but that their form could be changed. 

"The length of the extension [of the state of emergency] will be announced and the scenarios for the exams ready on Thursday, April 9," Suplinska revealed. The minister also informed that "the exams definitely stand for 12th graders and that changes could only be expected in their number, but maybe not". If the graduation year students are able to take their centralized national examinations, nothing will change regarding their enrollment at universities and colleges. 

As reported, in an effort to prevent Covid-19 from spreading further in Latvia, a state of emergency came into force on March 13, setting a number of tough restrictions. Remote learning is organized at schools