Features of the 2010 introductory campaign were discussed by experts and educators of Chernihiv region

On April 30, 2010, a round table “Features of the Introductory Campaign 2010: Advantages and Disadvantages” was held at the Pure Policy Expert Club.

The event was held within the framework of the project “Information Campaign” Transparent Introduction to the University of Ukraine “, which is implemented by the All-Ukrainian Non-Governmental Organization” Committee of Voters of Ukraine “and the Public Network” OPORA “with the support of the educational program of the International Renaissance Foundation. The project partner in the Chernihiv region is the Polissya Fund of International and Regional Research.

The roundtable took part in the work of the Chernihiv region, representatives of the department of education of Chernihiv city council, teachers of higher educational establishments and schools, representatives of parental committees, employers, journalists.

During the roundtable, Viktor Dovbnya responsible for holding the ZNO in the Chernihiv region informed the participants about the history of testing in Ukraine, world experience of assessment of knowledge, as well as changes that took place in the procedure of independent testing, features of entry into universities in 2010. In particular, the number of higher education institutions, where the entrant may apply not exceeding five, the number of directions of preparation in one university – two; The right of higher education was granted to participate in the competition of entrants with a certificate, the number of points of which of non -core subjects below 124 points, provided that the number of points in profile subjects is not lower than 170 points for each subject; The entitlement to submit a certificate of the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment, issued in 2008, or in 2009, or in 2010, has been granted entry.

According to Victoria Pekur, Head of the Department of Education of the City Council, the schools of the region are completely ready for the ZNO, 11.5 thousand graduates expressed a desire to participate independent testing.

In order to form a general idea of ​​the level of public support of the EIT, the participants of the round table presented the results of a national survey “Attitude of the Population of Ukraine to External Independent Testing”, conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Kiev International Institute of Sociology with the Financial Support of the Renaissance Fund. According to the data obtained in society, the idea that external evaluation is a more honest, dependent way of selecting school graduates when entering a university than entrance exams. Particularly inclined to give preference to the entry system on the results of external testing those whose children or children of acquaintances have come to universities on the results of testing – almost 80% consider such a system better.

In the course of further discussion, Yuri Tkach, Deputy Director of Educational Work of the Black Sea University of Ukraine, noted that students who entered the university as a result of testing in previous years show a high level of success. That is, an independent assessment really performs the function of selecting the most gifted and capable of teaching young people.

Representatives of higher education have also positively appreciated the limitation of the number of educational institutions to which the entrant has the right to provide a statement. The employee of Chernihiv State Technological University, Irina Sidorenko, expressed the opinion that such an innovation will not only simplify the university of forecasting the results of introduction, but will stimulate future entrants to study.

Director of the TRK channel “Child” Alexander Lomako stressed that it is not the procedure for access to the continuation of education, but the quality of training in higher education for employers. But the possibility of entering a university through the procedure of independent testing of more educated youth allows to expect an increase in the level of training of future specialists.

During the discussion, the greatest discussion issue was the consideration of the average score of the certificate when entering higher education institutions. In general, both educators and parents of students agreed that the existing EIT system is insufficient to motivate students to study a wide range of disciplines, except for those from which the child plans to take tests. In addition, as noted by the teacher of secondary school №22 Regina Husak, the testing does not take into account the psychological features of future entrants. However, according to most participants in the event, the introduction of the average score not only does not solve these issues, but also introduces an element of subjectivity in the assessment of knowledge, can lead to a mechanical “winding” of points and creates a basis for abuse.

The participants of the discussion also evaluated the possibility of introducing additional examinations from the universities next year, as they can completely destroy the current system of impartial assessment of students’ knowledge.

In general, all roundtable participants agreed that the external independent testing system provides an adequate level of objectivity of assessment of students’ knowledge, significantly reduces the manifestations of corruption in the educational sphere and requires further improvement as an alternative tool for equal access to higher education.