University entrance exams postponed due to coronavirus crisis

No new dates for tests have been set yet, while pre-enrollment for schools also suspended

Students preparing to begin an entrance exam at the University of Lleida, June 12, 2018 (by Salvador Miret)
Students preparing to begin an entrance exam at the University of Lleida, June 12, 2018 (by Salvador Miret) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

March 17, 2020 07:38 PM

The 2020 university entrance exams will be postponed across Spain due to the coronavirus crisis.

A decision to postpone the tests, known as the Selectivitat or PAU in Catalan, was made on Tuesday after a videolink meeting of the Spanish education and university ministers, their regional counterparts, and university representatives.

A statement from the Spanish government emphasized the desire to avoid any "negative consequences" of the suspension of classes in schools because of covid-19.

The university enrollment calendar will also be adapted to the new dates of the exams, still to be determined.

In Catalonia, the PAU were scheduled for June 9, 10 and 11. Education officials have said they are now working on different scenarios depending on how long the confinement measures are extended.

The education and university ministries emphasized that they had to ensure that "no student will miss the course due to the current circumstances" and also "ensure that access to university occurs in a way that is fair and just for all."

School pre-enrollment also postponed

The Catalan Ministry of Education has also decided to postpone pre-enrollment for schools.

The pre-enrollment dates for both primary and secondary schools have been suspended until they can take place under normal conditions.