Graduating classes go back to school on May 11

Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou said students of graduating classes of private and public secondary schools, who are set to return to school on May 11, will participate in classes in groups of 12, while schools will enforce strict safety measures for the safety of both students and teachers.

Prodromou reiterated that throughout the island’s lockdown period, during which students continued their education from home through distance learning, his Ministry’s main goal was to ensure that secondary school graduates complete the academic year with a valid leaving certificate allowing them to move onto higher education.

With graduating students set to return to school on May 11, one week into the onset of the first phase of the gradual loosening of restriction measures, Prodromou said students will take classes in groups of 12.

He noted it has yet to be decided when public school graduates will take their final exams, locally known as Pancyprian exams.

All other levels of education will soon follow suit, Prodromou said, adding that a plan has been drawn up for the rearrangement of certain school departments, which will have to operate in other schools which are better suited to adhere to health and safety protocols that will be enforced at schools.

Prodromou added that schools will have designated rooms where persons who may show concerning symptoms can be examined.