This post is to keep UK institutions updated on disruptions across the EU Europe region caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is part of our series ‘Europe and education: Stay connected during Covid-19’, which also includes webinars and other engagement opportunities.

These posts will focus on nine priority countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania and Spain. If the country you are interested in is not included this week, please check past updates or contact the country representative.

This week:

• Germany: Schools reopening in stages, main examinations set to take place
• Greece: End-of-school exams still planned for end of June; official online education platform in use across the country
• Spain: EBAU exams to take place; school openings planned for summer

IELTS tests have been affected in all countries in Europe as a result of Covid-19 precautions. For the latest update by country, please check: https://www.ielts.org/news/2020/changes-to-ielts-test-arrangements-in-some-locations-due-to-novel-coronavirus. We are monitoring the situation very closely and will continue to provide updates as the situation develops.

If you have any feedback, please contact me or any of our country staff.

Thank you - and stay safe.

Almut Caspary – Higher Education and Research Lead, EU Europe (Almut.Caspary@britishcouncil.org).

GERMANY

Updated 21 April

Important note: Education in Germany is largely devolved to the 16 federal states. This means there are differences in dates of exams and holidays. Under current circumstances, it also means there were differences in dates when schools were closed and when they may reopen. However, general principles have been agreed Germany-wide.

Overall, Germany has relaxed some of its tight rules over the last couple of weeks (e.g. some shops reopening). New regulations are coming in between 20 and 27 April depending on the decision of the individual state and how hard hit the area is or has been by the virus. However, the federal government says if the curve starts to go up again, rules will be re-tightened.

Germany has been testing extensively compared with some other countries, and there is an ongoing push to test even more widely.

School and university closures

Schools are reopening in stages. Primary and secondary schools and universities which have been closed since mid-March are scheduled to resume operation slowly after 27 April. Year groups with big exams coming up this year or next (e.g. year ten and nine or A-level equivalent students) will return to school first under strict social distancing conditions and with reduced class sizes.

The start of the university summer semester from 20 April has been confirmed, but classes will be delivered almost exclusively online. The exact semester start dates differ across the federal states, but most universities will start in the next few weeks.

Research at universities and research institutes is taking place under strict conditions.

Examinations

Abitur (A-level equivalent) exams will be taking place from 20 April under strict social distancing conditions. Results are still scheduled to be released before the start of the summer break (between the end of June and the end of July depending on the state and staggered school holiday dates).

University exams have been postponed.

Online and remote education provision

Remote teaching is taking place across the country, although there is still a mixed picture across the country in terms of capability of schools and teachers to deliver lessons remotely (e.g. internet access, availability of suitable platforms, individual skills).

Emergency childcare is being provided for key workers, such as doctors, nurses, teachers and supermarket staff, which also includes supporting children with their remote teaching programme, where relevant.

Other insights: Media

German media has tended to focus first and foremost on the situation in Germany overall and different parts of the country, then the USA and the reopening of China. There has been some coverage of the situation in the UK, such as articles on the perceived mismanagement of the crisis by the UK government and the NHS struggling to cope.

Contact

For more information about Germany, please contact Ailsa Kienberger, Head of Education and Society, Germany (ailsa.kienberger@britishcouncil.de).

GREECE

Updated 22 April

Confinement measures remain in place for the general public until 27 April. A government spokesperson said yesterday that 'the government is keen to introduce a gradual return to normality while protecting public health and the economy' and that the return to normality will be 'a gradual, long and targeted process to ensure there is no backsliding'. Prime Minister Mitsotakis is expected to set the roadmap for easing restrictions early next week. There are reports that restrictions may be eased gradually and cautiously from 4 May.  

School and university closures and examinations

Schools and universities across Greece remain closed. No decision has yet been taken on how and when Panhellenic examinations (for Lyceum students) will take place. The Ministry of Education currently intends to hold Panhellenic exams in June.  Decisions are expected to be announced next week.

Online and remote education provision

Distance learning was rapidly developed as a response to Covid-19 and is now conducted across all levels of education. The Greek Ministry of Education has introduced three methods of remote learning:

1. Tele-education/webinars and learning in real time
2. Recorded webinars with post-webinar discussions between teachers and students, where access to education materials is provided through online platforms supported by the Ministry
3. Educational television programmes for primary school students. 

The Ministry has reported that, as of 2 April, 114,900 digital classrooms had been established with 1.9 million students taking part, and that the numbers of digital classrooms and students are growing every day. The priority for the Ministry has been to implement distance learning for final year students at secondary schools. These students have now been taught 70 to 85 per cent of their curriculum for the year, with online support.

Universities are being supported by three platforms from CISCO, Google and Microsoft which are being offered free of charge.  At universities, 96.35 per cent of undergraduate lessons and 91 per cent of postgraduate lessons for the spring semester are currently being offered online. 

Connectivity issues due to the massive use of the online platforms by teachers and students have been reported. The Ministry has been attempting to act on these by making necessary improvements. Reports of lack of equipment also led the Ministry to secure additional laptops and tablets through ESPA funding and donations. 

More information is available directly from the Ministry of Education's 'learn from home' platform: https://mathainoumestospiti.gov.gr/

Other insights

The news website https://www.ekathimerini.com/news has regular articles about the situation in Greece, including the impact on education.

Contact

For more information about Greece, please contact Maria Tsakali, Head of Education, Greece (Maria.Tsakali@britishcouncil.gr).  

SPAIN

Updated 16 April

School, university and college closures and examinations

The Ministry of Education and most regions of Spain (excluding Madrid, Castilla-León and Andalucía) have agreed to maintain the academic calendar so that most students can complete the year. To do so, schools will largely base their evaluation of students on the first two terms, with the final term mainly serving as reinforcement. More flexibility of evaluation has been introduced.

Schools will open in the summer for games and extra-curricular activities with teachers and volunteers.

The rectors’ conference has agreed to maintain the calendar year for universities in Spain and provide online education and a wide range of open-access resources.

There are no plans for face-to-face delivery this calendar year, and little planning for summer courses.

EBAU exams for university entrance are planned to take place between 10 and 22 July.

Compulsory hours of VET internships have been reduced. Students are allowed to submit assignments even if they have not been able to complete the minimum hours required. Ideally, students will be able to return between two to four weeks of the year end, but this decision has yet to be taken by health authorities.

Contact

For more information about Spain, please contact Carolina Jiminez, Head of Higher Education and Society, Spain (Carolina.Jimenez@britishcouncil.es).

COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES

• Bulgaria: Ivaylo.Slavov@britishcouncil.bg 
• Cyprus: pantelitsa.michael@cy.britishcouncil.org 
• France: Catherine.Saracco@britishcouncil.fr  
• Germany: ailsa.kienberger@britishcouncil.de  
• Greece: Maria.Tsakali@britishcouncil.gr  
• Italy: Filomena.Casamassa@BritishCouncil.it  
• Poland: Julia.Plachecka@britishcouncil.pl  
• Romania: gabriel.ivan@britishcouncil.ro 
• Spain: Carolina.Jimenez@britishcouncil.es  

PAST UPDATES

• 16 April: Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Romania
• 8 April: Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania and Spain