“The Ministry for Innovation and Technology has called on the heads of higher education institutions to maintain measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus epidemic and protecting people’s health within the framework of a rectoral decree, despite the expiry of the previously ordered state of emergency. Students at universities and colleges will continue to be taught via distance teaching next week”, the Ministry said in a statement to Hungarian news agency MTI on Thursday.

“In accordance with the government’s measures aimed at curbing the coronavirus epidemic, a ban on visiting higher education institutions came into force on 12 March 2020. Because of the irresponsible behaviour of the opposition, the regulations will be repealed on 27 March 2022”, the statement reads.

“In the interests of handling the situation that has developed, the Ministry for Innovation and Technology’s State Secretary for Higher Education, Innovation and Vocational Training József Bódis has written a letter to the heads of all universities and colleges of higher education asking that their institutions remain closed for the duration and their students continue to refrain from visiting them. In the case on institutions that are not maintained by the state, the State Secretary has recommended that they act similarly in view of the virus situation”, the Ministry wrote.

“Distance teaching began everywhere in higher education on 23 March 2020, in line with local capabilities and tasks, and training will continue in this fashion next week. While taking into account the interests of their students, institutions will be taking the necessary action to ensure that all students have the opportunity to successfully close the semester”, the statement reads.

(Ministry for Innovation and Technology / MTI)