Language and interpersonal contacts are key requirements for full participation in society. They were challenged by the COVID-19 outbreak when severe restrictions were imposed for the safety and health of millions of European citizens. One of the measures taken at governmental level was the closure of schools, thus forcing teachers, pupils and students to continue education from home. Many of the closed schools and universities started providing, on a regular basis but in most cases as a grassroots activity by their personnel, online teaching. The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages welcomes the rapid adaptation of educational systems to allow learners of all ages to access learning, including online courses of and in regional or minority languages in some countries, at this specific time. The Committee of Experts encourages the competent authorities of all states parties to the Charter to develop comprehensive supporting policies, in addition to face-to-face education and real classroom activities, fostering access to online learning for regional or minority language speakers as well as for all those who wish to learn the languages concerned. Understanding that distance education is becoming part of European educational systems, the Committee of Experts will pay attention in the future to the availability and the quality of online teaching of and in regional or minority languages, as a necessary complement to traditional educative methods, within the spirit of Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter. Read more