This post is to keep UK institutions updated on disruptions across the EU Europe region caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. For more information, updates, webinars and other engagement opportunities, please see ‘Europe and education: Stay connected during Covid-19’.

These posts focus on ten priority countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Romania and Spain. This week: 

  • Bulgaria: Matriculation exams will take place 1-4 June, results issued on 26 June latest; government opens third date possibility for matriculation exams.
  • Cyprus: Final grade lyceum students returned to school from Monday 11 May, with Pancyprian examinations beginning on 9 June. Gymnasium students return on 21 May.
  • Germany: Gradual reopening across the country.
  • Greece: Final-year and secondary students return to school, though attendance low and many prefer self-study or online. Start of 2020-21 academic year moved several weeks earlier to 1 September.
  • Ireland: Guidance published on converting predicted grades into Leaving Certificate results, amid criticism of process. Some universities suspend study abroad programmes for 2020-21.
  • Poland: New detailed guidance for HEIs and on examinations. Matura to start on 8 June, with results on 3 July.
  • Romania: Oral examinations for Bacalaureat cancelled; widespread coverage of urban/rural education inequality.
  • Spain: Some schools to reopen next week in low-risk areas for final-year and early years students.

If a country you’re interested in doesn’t appear here, or if you would like more details, please check previous weeks’ updates or contact the country representative. 

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. 

For more Europe updates, webinars, market insights and other services in international higher education, please go to your alerts settings and select updates by region from Europe. 

If you have any feedback, please contact me or any of the country staff listed below. 

Thank you - and stay safe. 

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

BULGARIA

Updated 19 May

Bulgaria's State of National Emergency ended on 14 May and was replaced by State of National Epidemic, which will last until 14 June. Some restrictions have been lifted, including on mobility between cities within the country. From 18 May, malls, big stores and gyms will reopen to the public with social distancing measures in place. Restaurants are also allowed to open their outdoor areas, again under distancing conditions. 

Schools and universities

All secondary and tertiary education institutions remain closed for face-to-face activities. Kindergartens will open on 22 May at half capacity, which will be gradually be increased.

An ordinance from the Minister of Health on 15 May outlined exceptions to school and university closures, including:

‘The attendance of children, school children, university students and PhD students at institutions of formal education and HEIs who aim to complete the academic year 2019-2020. Also for practical training and examinations, and for the preparation of the academic year 2020-21, when it is impossible for the latter to take place online and/or be delayed. In these cases the directors of the institutions or the HEI rectors should set up protocols in strict compliance with the respective measures.’

Based on this ordinance, all universities will publish their agendas for activities that fall under the exception and require physical presence, for example some practical training, examinations and thesis defences.

Examinations

Matriculation exams will take place from 1 to 4 June. Diplomas for Secondary Education will be issued by the latest 26 June latest.

More and more universities are recognising the results of matriculation exams for their entry conditions as opposed to their own exams. Sofia University, for example, will use the results of matriculation exams for admission to 116 out of 118 undergraduate programme, and is keeping only three of its own entry exams – Biology and Chemistry for Medicine; and Mathematics level 2 for Computer Science and Mathematics Bachelor degree programmes.  Partly because of this, the Ministry of Education and Science has opened a third possible date for high school graduands to sit the mandatory matriculation exam. The deadline for submitting requests to sit this is 21 May.

British Council activity in country

The British Council in Bulgaria will restart IELTS exams on 21 May. This is allowed under new regulations as they lead to the 2020-21 academic year, are offered on behalf of formal education institutions and cannot take place online. 

Contact

For more information about Bulgaria, please contact Ivo Slavov (Ivaylo.Slavov@britishcouncil.bg).

CYPRUS

Updated 19 May

Cyprus is going through a staged reopening. The last phase of relaxation set for 21 May, although restrictions and guidelines will remain in place.

School and university closures and examinations 

In line with the government's strategy to lift restrictions and restart the economy, all final grade lyceum students returned to school from Monday 11 May to prepare for their final pancyprian examinations. These will begin on 9 June.

Most private schools have finalised their academic year with online tutoring.

Following discussion and deep concern among citizens and relevant parties, it has been decided that lyceum students in lower grades (year one and year two) will not return to school for the current academic year but will continue with online tutoring. Students in all three grades at lower high schools (gymnasiums) will return on Thursday 21 May. The same practice will be followed for primary school students, who will return to school on the same day following a rotation system to keep class sizes low.

The academic year for gymnasium and primary students has been extended until 26 June.

Contact

For more information about Cyprus, contact Pantelitsa Michael (Pantelitsa.Michael@cy.britishcouncil.org).

GERMANY 

Updated 19 May 

Important note: Education in Germany is largely devolved to the 16 federal states. This means that although there are agreed Germany-wide principles, there are differences in dates of exams, holidays and regulations for schools and higher education institutions. 

Germany is continuing to relax its lockdown measures in phases. Face masks are mandatory across Germany when using public transport or in shops.

School and university closures  

Over the last few weeks, primary and secondary schools and universities have been gradually reopening. The aim is that all pupils will have been back at school physically 'at least once' by the start of the summer holidays (end of June in some areas). In one federal state, parents have won a court case allowing them to decide if they want to send their (primary school age) children to school or not.

Support for students

The federal ministry of education has launched interest-free loans of up to €650 per month for students who are struggling financially as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also create a €100 million relief fund for the hardest hit students. There has, however, been criticism that the loans are not accessible for most international (including most EU) students and that they will trap students in debt. 

The state of Berlin is also planning to offer some tutoring and support during the summer holiday period to pupils who have missed out the most. This support is to be provided by private-sector tutoring companies.

Other insights: Media  

Brexit is making its way back into the German media, with fears mounting of a cliff-edge hard Brexit at the end of December. Much is being reported about the talks between the EU and the UK and how they currently appear to be failing to deliver any realistic way forward.

Some media in Germany have also covered the bill passed by the UK parliament that limits EEA citizens’ access to the UK labour market from January 2021, with analysis of the impact this may have on some people.

Contact  

For more information about Germany, please contact Ailsa Kienberger (ailsa.kienberger@britishcouncil.de).

GREECE

Updated 19 May

Greece is relaxing many of its restrictions and borders are expected to reopen on 1 July or earlier, starting with EU countries, the Schengen area and Israel. 

School and university closures

Secondary school pupils returned to school on 18 May, with attendance subject to strict guidelines. Final year students returned a week earlier. However, attendance was and remains low as students study from home and prepare for the national (panhellenic) examinations. 

The Greek Ministry of Education has announced that the next academic year will begin on 1 September, at least two weeks earlier than usual, to help schools make up for lessons lost during the pandemic. 

Contact

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

IRELAND

Updated 18 May

On Monday 18 May, Ireland’s first phase in lifting social distancing measures began as per the country’s roadmap. People are encouraged to stay at home and work remotely if possible, and to observe existing public health rules. However, restrictions on some types of work have been eased, such as construction and gardening, and the range of shops which can open has been expanded.

School and university closures 

All primary, post-primary and third level institutions will remain closed until September. From 18 May, school and university buildings can be accessed for the purpose of enabling remote teaching and other support to learners, particularly for support to third level examinations.  

Examinations 

Detailed guidance has been issued to teachers and principals on how to convert predicted grades into Leaving Certificate (final school exams) results. A student's grade will be based on a combination of a school-based estimation of an overall percentage mark and ranking awarded to a student in a particular subject, and data available from the State Examinations Commission that includes data on past performance of students in each school and nationally. Parliamentary debate last week raised several issues around this process and there is concern that high-performing students could be disadvantaged if the overall performance of their school is poor. The grade guidance is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/1afce4-a-guide-to-calculated-grades-for-leaving-certificate-students-2020/. 

Remote and online academic provision 

Dublin City University has announced a plan for blended learning for new students in the new term. They are the first university to announce clear plans including term start dates. 

International students 

The Irish University’s Association has called for a new €20 million advertising campaign to attract international students to be included in the next programme for government.  This follows concern about the impact that reduced international student numbers is likely to have on the financial position of many HEIs. 

Three universities have also announced the partial or complete suspension of their Erasmus+ and other study abroad programmes for at least the autumn term of the 2020-21 academic year. Other universities are expected to follow suit. 

British Council activity in country 

The British Council office is closed though all team members are working remotely. 

Other insights 

Negotiations to form a new government continue and there is discussion of the creation or amendment of ministries and departments. Negotiations have advanced this week and a coalition government of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party is currently the most likely outcome. 

Further information 

9thlevel.ie: Regularly updated digest of articles related to HE in Ireland. Also includes articles with a Northern Ireland focus.

Contact 

For more information about Ireland, please contact Mags Walsh (mags.walsh@ie.britishcouncil.org).

POLAND

Updated 19 May

The Polish government is reopening shopping malls, hairdressers, museums and art galleries, with regulations in place to monitor the situation and encourage social distancing. Nurseries and preschools are now open in many locations, but there are still strict regulations in terms of how many and in which ways children can participate. From 2 May, primary schools will reopen for childcare activities. 

School and university closures

On 18 May, detailed regulations for HEIs were issued by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Face-to-face tuition will be allowed under distancing and sanitary conditions from 25 May in cases where remote tuition is not possible.

Examinations

The Ministry of Education has published more detailed information on how the Matura (secondary school leaving) exam will be organised and the kind of sanitary and infection prevention measures that will be taken. The Matura will now be taken by students in the first three weeks of June, starting on 8 June. Additional dates are set for early July. On 24 April, Poland's central examination board announced a new schedule for final exams which stated that only written examinations would be held in 2020.

Final results of the Matura will be announced on 3 July, when students will receive their school leaving diploma. Students who have to resit their exams will receive their results on 11 September. 
From 1 June, a consultation may be held with teachers regarding final exams preparation. 

Contact

For more information about Poland, please contact Julia Plachecka (Julia.Plachecka@britishcouncil.pl). 

ROMANIA

Updated 19 May

Romania's state of emergency formally ended on 14 May. From 15 June, the country entered a 'state of alert'.

School and university closures

Romania has decided to keep schools closed until September.

Examinations

As previously announced by Minister of Education Monica Anisie, the National Assessment secondary level exam taken by all students at the end of the eighth grade will be held from 2 to 27 June and the Bacalaureae exam that allows entrance to higher education institutions from 22 June to 14 July.

All oral tests have now been cancelled for the Bacalaureat exam. These include the competency tests that are taken by some students as a preliminary step within the Bacalaureat exam, for example, tests to assess the Romanian language skills of students who attended high school in the language of a national minority (such as Hungarian); tests for assessing foreign language skills (including English); and some digital skills tests which included an oral element. New methodology for evaluating these competencies is due to be announced by the end of May.

On Monday, President Klaus Iohannis declared that a law had been passed allowing parents to take days off to supervise their children in the period immediately following the end of the state of emergency until the end of the school year (i.e. end of June).

Other insights: Education inequality

There has been much discussion in the past week about the depth of inequality in education brought about by limits to internet provision across Romania and limited online teacher training and competency in less connected areas. The government has been strongly criticised for making distance learning compulsory without supporting disadvantaged students, and has now promised to spend about €30 million on tablets.

Gabriela Alexandrescu of Save the Children Romania said: 'Vulnerable children have found themselves in a critical situation of marginalisation and social injustice. Being excluded from the education process is traumatic for them.' Save the Children has stressed that the national fixed internet penetration rate was just 64 per cent at the end of 2019, according to data released by the telecom market regulator ANCOM. In cities, however, 75 per cent of households had fixed internet connections, compared with rural areas, where the share was just 49 per cent. Under half of all homes in Romania (47 per cent) had high-speed fixed internet connections. Government statistics show that 250,000 students do not have computer access, while survey by the IRES economic research institute claimed the actual number could be more than 900,000, or almost a third of all students. More information: www.romania-insider.com/romania-high-speed-internet-statistics-2019.

Lack of online provision is just one element where Romanian education across much of the country suffers from a chronic lack of funds. About 1,000 out of 6,300 schools still have no running water. There has been international media coverage of instances where volunteers have taken a hold of the situation. A France24 report explored initiatives such as the one run by the NGO EducaTM in Timisoara city, where volunteers have set up an workshop where they disinfect piles of tablets, smartphones and laptops to distribute to poor children: www.france24.com/en/20200515-with-few-computers-romania-and-bulgaria-face-homeschool-hurdles.

Contact

For more information about Romania, please contact Gabriel Ivan (gabriel.ivan@britishcouncil.ro).

SPAIN

Updated 18 May

The lockdown in Spain is being eased in phases and by regions, with Madrid and Barcelona among areas still under lockdown due to the number of infections.

School and university closures

Schools started preparing to reopen last week. Some will be able to reopen early next week for early years and pre-university groups only.  Return to school is voluntary, with very strict distancing and health and security measures including compulsory masks in many regions.  The maximum number of students per class is 15; schools can choose whether to manage this by having students on alternate days or holding parts of classes online being among the options available.  In Madrid, Barcelona and other regions still under lockdown, the earliest that students could return to school would be 1 June. The calendar year is due to end on 23 June, so students in these areas would only be able to return for a maximum of three weeks.

Contact

For more information, please contact Carolina Jimenez (carolina.jimenez@britishcouncil.es).

COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES