The regional exam of the first year of the baccalaureate for free candidates will also be organized in July 2020, while the unified regional exam for schooled candidates will be held in-person in September, said a press release from the ministry.

In order to guarantee equal opportunities for all students, the subjects for the baccalaureate exams for the first and second years will only relate to courses given as part of onsite education before the suspension of studies, it said, adding that intensive remote courses will be scheduled to ensure good preparation for the exams as of next week until the end of June 2020 in order to allow candidates to take the exams in the best conditions.

Concerning other levels (elementary, and middle and high school), the pupils will not pass the examinations of end of the year, in particular the examination of the 6th year of the elementary school and that of the third year of middle school, explained the press release. Thus, their success and their passage to the next level will depend on the grades of continuous exams organized in-person until the date of suspension of studies, March 14, 2020.

The ministry will announce the dates for the baccalaureate exam and the results for all school levels at a later date.

These decisions take into account a series of factors relating to the protection and safety of students and educational and administrative staff, the evolution of the epidemiological situation in the Kingdom, the completion of 70% to 75 % of school and training programs before the suspension of studies on March 16, the fact that remote education can in no case replace onsite teaching. It also concerns guaranteeing equity and equal opportunities for all learners, taking into account the disparities between families in the supervision and support of their children.

In order to protect the health of candidates, administrative and educational staff, and those in charge of organizing exams, the ministry will adopt the necessary preventive and organizational measures, particularly the preparation of topics, the management of exam operations, the use of areas such as sports facilities, in addition to accommodation, food and transportation of students.

The ministry also stated that it will ensure pedagogical continuity until the end of the current year for all levels, in order to carry out the remote learning operation via the various digital platforms and TV channels, in addition to brochures that will be made available to elementary school students in remote areas.

The current school year has not yet ended, the remaining period being of paramount importance in the learning process so that students can continue their studies next year in the best conditions and avoid any difficulty in the future, it noted.

The ministry once again called on students, educational and administrative staff as well as families to show seriousness and responsibility with regard to the operation of remote schooling.