Moldovan education ministry says 2020 session of school-leaving examinations cancelled

Chisinau, 13 May /MOLDPRES/ - The 2020 session of school-leaving examinations (Bacalaureat-2020) will be cancelled and the school-leaving diplomas will be issued based on the annual average marks during the education at the lyceum. Education, Culture and Research Minister Igor Sarov made statements to this effect at a news briefing today.  

„The Bacalaureat diploma will have the same legal value for the higher education institutions of Moldova and from abroad, if a proper parliament decision is issued. The date of getting the diploma will not exceed 5 July 2020,’’ the minister noted.  

According to the official, the option of the Bacalaureat exams’ cancellation was analyzed along with other solutions, being described as the best one. ‘’Other scenarios were edified depending on the date when the pupils return to classrooms, which is unpredictable,’’ Igor Sarov said.  

„At a today’s cabinet meeting, we will put up the draft law on the cancellation of the national school-leaving examinations for the 2019-2020 academic year, which is to be approved by Moldova’s parliament,’’ the official specified.   

„The Education Ministry’s team assumes a realistic prospect, based on data and evidence in tackling the present situation, being focused on the axiom that the health of children and teachers, and namely the avoidance of the contamination with coronavirus, is to be priority in all actions of the education system, ‘’ Igor Sarov said.

The pre-school children, pupils and students from Moldova have been in quarantine regime since 11 March. Once the education process suspended, more education institutions and teachers started online teaching courses. The Education, Culture and Research Ministry has earlier informed that, given the COVID-19 pandemic and establishment of the emergency state, which had an impact on the carrying out of the education process in Moldova, the pupils of the fourth and ninth forms would be exempted from the national tests and examinations.

The 2019-2020 school year will continue online and will end on 29 May, without festive meetings and manifestations.