80 separate graduation ceremonies held at Viljandi Culture Academy
The constraints of the coronavirus crisis have led schools to figure out how to hold graduation ceremonies when large gatherings are not allowed. The Viljandi Culture Academy of the University of Tartu found a particularly clever solution to the situation - 80 graduation ceremonies took place in person.
Barbara Laul, a master's degree student of education studies, graduated from the Viljandi Culture Academy on Wednesday with a degree in arts and home economics. She is a class teacher at Torma School (Torma põhikool) and also gives lessons in history and handicrafts and homework.
Tõnis Veelmaa, the director of the ceremony, explained: "Every student could choose the time when they would come. In the black hall of Viljandi Culture Academy, a path has been built for them, where the people they met here during school will talk or perform with them. They will receive their diploma and I think that this time is more personal for them than it has ever been before."
Barbara Laul said: "I thought I was sitting or standing here in a black hall and then someone was showing a video from somewhere. But that kind of solution - fabulous, very nice! /.../ You can see that I have tears in my eyes. I would continue crying, but I can't."
"Although I have already studied my profession for the third time, i.e. as a teacher, I have to say that there is always something new and things are developing. It was a fantastic time," Laul suggests to others to go to school again.
From June 20 to July 1, 80 graduation ceremonies were held in person at the Viljandi Culture Academy, in fact there were a little over 100 graduates.
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Editor: Katriin Eikin Sein