Launched in Moldova online petitionwhich has already collected more than 700 signatures in connection with the bachelor’s degree exam in mathematics for real-life students. The authors claim that the test contained tasks of very high complexity, and compare them with problems in olympiads or university exams. They demand that the passing grade be lowered, the assessment system adjusted, or a new exam organized. A mathematics teacher from the Falesti region said that “this test was originally created for failing the exam.” The Ministry of Education said that the exam tasks were developed in accordance with the national curriculum. The department explained that it understands concerns about the complexity of individual tasks and promised to analyze the exam results in detail.
What the authors of the petition demand
The petition was launched on behalf of “students, parents and teachers of Moldova.” It was addressed to the Ministry of Education and Research and the National Agency for Curriculum and Assessment (ANCE).
The authors of the petition expressed “deep dissatisfaction with the level of difficulty of the mathematics exam for the real profile.”
“We believe that the proposed tasks significantly exceeded the average level of the national bachelor’s degree examination. Instead of objectively assessing the knowledge and skills acquired over the years of study, the test contained tasks of very high complexity, comparable to the tasks of olympiads or university exams. One of the most serious problems is that the exam left no real chance even for intermediate-level students (grade 5–6) to score the required number of points to pass successfully. The baccalaureate exam should allow all students who have mastered the minimum required knowledge to achieve a passing grade by completing basic and intermediate tasks,” the petition wrote.
The authors demanded to “urgently analyze the situation” and take one or more measures: lower the passing score or adjust the grading system, review the level of difficulty of tasks, and also, “if deemed necessary, cancel the current session and organize a new exam with a balanced and accessible level of difficulty.”
What does the math teacher say?
Gabriela Diachuk, a mathematics teacher at one of the lyceums in the Falesti region, wrote on social networks that for many students this exam was a “severe psychological shock.”
“As an educator, I clearly see the main problem: this test was originally designed to fail the exam. I have a deep feeling that the goal of the authors of the test is not to test what a child has learned over the years of study, but to catch him making a mistake, mislead him and artificially lower his score. The very structure of the tasks was built in such a way that the student would stumble at every step,” the teacher said.
The teacher also spoke out for the need to review the structure of the mathematics exam.
Ministry of Education’s response
The Ministry of Education reported that, together with the National Agency for Curriculum and Assessment, they familiarized themselves with the contents of the petition.
“We value the involvement of students, parents and teachers in the discussion of national exams and believe that reasoned opinions contribute to the continuous improvement of the educational process,” the department explained.
At the same time, the ministry emphasized that “the examination tasks were developed in accordance with the national mathematics curriculum, in compliance with all preparation procedures.”
“At the same time, we understand the concerns raised about the level of difficulty of individual tasks and their impact on results. ANCE will review the examination results, including the issues raised in the petition, to determine whether there are areas that require guidance clarification. If the analysis shows the need for additional measures, they will be taken within the framework of current legislation. The assessment will be carried out professionally, objectively and taking into account the interests of children and the principles of fairness of the examination process,” the ministry clarified.
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Let us remind you that exams for the bachelor’s degree began on June 2 and will last until June 19. There are 92 examination centers throughout the country, of which 31 are located in Chisinau. More than 18,800 candidates are participating in the session, including 1,866 graduates from previous years who will have to retake the test. Exam results will be published on June 25.
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