ATHENS – Some Greek teachers said they will not grade students on their performances so far this year because remote learning online because of the COVID-19 pandemic makes it too difficult to assess them.

The teachers will instead give a descriptive assessment of their progress after saying there’s not enough data to let them give grades in a system that is designed around rote parrotization and not critical thinking, the basis for Ancient Greek teaching.

The Education Ministry will allow it, said Kathimerini, if the teachers can demonstrate there’s no other way to put a mark on how well students are doing through online classes limiting interaction.

“Descriptive is, at the moment, the fairest way of scoring,” high school teacher Dora Kountoura told the paper, saying that most students’ response to remote learning is quantitatively and qualitatively such as to raise doubts about the merits of grading.

While some high schools resumed operations on Jan. 25, those in the prefecture of Attica, which includes the capital, are still doing their teaching online with computers and other devices.