"Yes, we have a plan B and are fully ready," the minister said at a meeting of the parliamentary Education, Science and Culture Committee in comment of the ministry's readiness for the scenario.
The minister later told journalists he did not want the court to pass the ruling shortly before the examination, saying that tasks for both scenarios were ready. "My wish as a minister is that they should either decide soon or considerably later, as we are on the finishing straight to the examinations. The examination center is ready for both outcomes, it has prepared examination tasks for both scenarios," Pavalkis said after the meeting.
In response to a plea from opposition politicians, Lithuania's Supreme Administrative Court should establish whether the minister's decree to allow an easier examination for minority students is legitimate.
The opposition says that the exceptions stipulated in the minister's decree runs counter to provisions of the Education Law, which suggests that "examination of academic achievements should be equal for students of schools delivering education in all languages." The provision was to take effect this year.
