The original article requires translation.
National exams have been postponed to July and September, and the assessment tests for Physical Education and Artistic Expression have been cancelled, the Minister of Education, Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, announced today.
In an interview with Rádio Renascença, the minister revealed today that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the exam dates have been changed again this year, and the first assessment tests, scheduled to take place between May 3rd and 11th, have been cancelled.
The change in the school calendar, caused by the school break that occurred between the end of January and the beginning of March, forced the postponement of the national exams: the first phase is moved from June to July and the second phase will be in September instead of July.
"Since we'll have an extra week of classes at the end of the year, the school calendar has been moved forward, and we'll have the first phase of exams taking place in July instead of June, and the second phase of exams taking place in September instead of July, as is traditionally the case," he stated in an interview with Rádio Renascença.
Regarding the assessment tests, aimed at students in the 2nd, 5th, and 8th grades, the first tests, which were scheduled for early May for 2nd-grade students, have been cancelled.
"Specifically, the assessment tests for Physical Education and Artistic Expression were indeed decided not to be carried out at this time, also because they were scheduled for May – those are the ones that take place closest to the current situation – and also due to the sharing of resources and all the issues we are aware of," he argued.
Regarding the remaining subjects, the minister says it is too early to make decisions, because "at this moment we do not have elements that allow us to unequivocally say that we have to condition this or that option".
Currently, according to the external assessment schedule for the current school year, the tests planned for 5th and 8th grade students are still in place, and they are scheduled to take the oral interaction tests in English between May 17th and 26th.
At the beginning of June, 5th grade students will take tests in Portuguese and English, while 8th grade students will take tests in Mathematics and English.
Then it will be the 2nd year students' turn to take the exams again: Mathematics and Environmental Studies (June 16th) and Portuguese and Environmental Studies (June 18th).
The new school calendar will be published today in the Official Gazette.
Tiago Brandão Rodrigues also announced that another 15,000 computers will arrive at Portuguese schools next week, after the Government promised to deliver 335,000 computers by the end of the second term.
The Minister of Education reiterated his assurance that the first order of 100,000 computers has been "completely distributed."