Rectors defend continuity of classroom assessments at universities

The Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities (CRUP), chaired by the rector of the University of Porto, António Sousa Pereira, issued this Tuesday a statement defending the continuity of classroom activities, as well as exams for Higher Education students.

The rejection, at least for now, of distance learning is ruled out by the fact that CRUP considers that the risk of contagion of covid-19 in academic communities is controlled in view of the containment measures that were taken by colleges and polytechnics throughout 2020 and how they managed to make face-to-face operation and safety in the classroom context compatible.

“As a result of the experience acquired and the measures taken since the beginning of the crisis, the level of risk and the degree of preparedness of higher education institutions in the face of the pandemic has proven to be fundamentally different from what is seen in other sectors of society”, refers to note released late Tuesday afternoon.

CRUP recalls that, at this time of year and as provided for in the respective academic calendars, classroom teaching at universities is already residual, since students are entering the evaluation period. “This is a critical phase of his academic career but in which the risk of contagion is by no means greater,” adds the statement.

Aware of a “highly variable” reality and in view of the increase in cases of new infections, CRUP says, therefore, that it will continue to follow the pandemic situation closely, expressing total willingness to adjust the measures it recommends according to what situation will demand.

The rectors’ position comes after the prime minister maintained that experts have doubts about the closure of schools in relation to secondary education. Regarding the schools of students up to 12 years old, António Costa stated that there is a consensus not to close, keeping the unknown regarding the teaching activity in higher education.