ATHENS - Τhe education ministry on Friday announced that it was responding to the challenge of school closures due to the coronavirus by launching digital tools that will enable distance learning.

As far as schools are concerned, priority will be given to the implementation of distance learning in the last school year, while, in addition to their existing tools, universities will be provided with three platforms from CISCO, Google and Microsoft.

The three platforms have been offered to the ministry free of charge.

"The current crisis has brought us face to face with a challenge: To act quickly so that we can keep our students in touch with the educational process, while at the same time seizing the opportunity to further nurture and deepen digital skills throughout educational community," Education Minister Niki Kerameus stressed.

The minister called on teachers, students and parents to "embrace this effort, engage in distance learning and reap all the benefits it can provide."

"There is a lot to be done, but we can all contribute," she added.

"I would like to thank the providers of the new, free, digital tools, as well as those who worked tirelessly to prepare the infrastructure for an innovative educational experience in a few days. Together we will overcome this difficulty and we will emerge as winners," she said.