Any students who have applied for foreign exams which are now cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, will be able to get their money back, according to Education and Employment Minister Owen Bonnici.

“We have been informed that those students who have applied for exams such as GCSEs or other foreign exams are able to get their money back. For further details they are to contact the Examination Department,” the minister said.

Last month, Bonnici announced that all schools and educational establishments will remain closed until the next scholastic year and that MATSEC examinations are also postponed.

He explained that MATSEC is currently collecting data from schools to be analysed and therefore refine the grades students will receive. “This will help sixth forms be in a better position to make the necessary choices.”

Church school sixth forms, De La Salle College and St Aloysius College, are to publish revised admission criteria after talks with the educational authorities are concluded. On this topic, Bonnici said that different sixth forms have different entry requirements, and stressed the importance that progress is not made more difficult for students.

“We have postponed MATSEC exams, but this does not mean we will invent special exams for these students. We are in discussions with the Catholic Education sector and I believe the ongoing discussions are productive. We will hopefully soon have the necessary information to provide to students.”

For O-levels, MATSEC will make a predictive assessment on student’s mock examinations, and each student will also have the opportunity to take the September session if they wish. “Post-secondary schools, including independent and church schools, will be recognising the predictive mark issued by MATSEC and in case they want to make choices among students achieving MQF 3, they can always introduce forms of additional assessments,” Bonnici told this newsroom.