Anticipating a change in the health situation that would force the process of the 2021 baccalaureate to be disrupted, the government can modify the examination rules up to fifteen days before the start of the tests.

From outright postponement to passing through continuous testing, Europe 1 is examining the hypotheses for the specialty tests scheduled for mid-March.

In this second week of school holidays, and perhaps revisions for some final year students, it is time to worry about the baccalaureate.

Depending on the evolution of the Covid-19 epidemic, and a potential third confinement, the 2021 bin will be modifiable up to fifteen days before the start of the tests scheduled for March 2021. An order published on December 24 authorizes in effect the government has to change the rules until the very last minute. 

>> READ ALSO -

 Bac tests modifiable at the last minute: the dismay of future baccalaureate holders

Three scenarios

Several hypotheses are on the government's table, while the Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer will attend the Health Defense Council scheduled for Tuesday.

Because back to school and the bac are two major political issues.

And the two are linked: if high schools cannot resume face-to-face on January 20, as announced by Emmanuel Macron at the end of November, there is little chance that the baccalaureate exams will be maintained as Jean-Michel Blanquer wishes. 

The government therefore has three scenarios in the event that the specialty exams scheduled for mid-March for final year students cannot be held normally.

The first is an outright postponement of the events in June.

But this scenario does not seem credible, since it would upset the entire school year.

Second hypothesis, to pass the tests remotely, like what has been done in some universities.

Here, it is the unequal access of high school students to a computer that is the problem. 

The third and most credible solution then remains: continuous monitoring.

But it would be a real heartbreak for Jean-Michel Blanquer who carried the reform of the bac at arm's length. 

Moreover, according to the entourage of the Minister, only one test could be kept as it is despite a worsening of the health situation: the grand oral.

A test that acts as a rite of passage to materialize the bac.

The Première may also be able to take the oral exam in French under normal conditions.

Decisions will be made next week, time to have reports of contamination cases during the holidays.

>> Find Europe Matin in replay and podcast here

The puzzle of Parcoursup files

But whatever it is, an upheaval in the March events would cause many problems, especially for Parcoursup.

Because the idea this year was to integrate the marks of the tests of March in the selection file of Parcoursup.

But what if there isn't?

Not providing any information would be going against the very philosophy of the reform of the bac, redesigned in continuity with Parcoursup.

There is then the possibility of putting other marks: one hypothesis would be to create two in continuous control on the two specialty tests. 

Shaking up the baccalaureate exams would in any case be a real headache, which must find a solution both political and technical before April 8, date of the end of the formulation of wishes in the software Parcoursup.