Thursday, 18 November 2010
Revolutionary approaches due for the 2012 entrance examinations
Revolutionary approaches will be applied during the 2012 entrance examinations: it is proposed to set up a reference collection of Armenian language tests so that specific exam tests are drawn upon from this collection, with the questions and keys to be given out in advance.
Describing the steps to undertake on the way to implementing the anticorruption program in education, Minister of Education and Sciences Armen Ashotyan stated the following at the press conference held in the wake of the cabinet sitting:
“This is a common practice worldwide. It will put an end to misunderstandings and unhealthy agiotage at the time of examinations,” the Minister said. Under this program, uniform examinations will be established in all the high schools and universities of Armenia. “The examinations will be based on a unified system. 3 exams are proposed for all the high schools and universities of Armenia, including the specialized ones: Armenian language based on the model tests, standardized foreign language examination, as well as the GRE. These steps shall raise examinations’ objectivity and the level of knowledge in foreign languages. And the third examination - the international certificated test - will allow to measure applicants’ knowledge in the spheres of mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology,” Mr. Ashotyan added.
He advised that the ministry’s program of anticorruption action has been approved by the head of government. Program discussions will be held involving various institutes of civil society.
“Corruption risks in the system of education seem to be concentrated in two main areas: general educational system where it takes the form of illegal fundraising and in the system of higher education. In the latter corruption risks are revealed during the midterm and final examinations. Entry exams have improved considerably over the past few years,” the speaker said and went on to note that the program drafted by the ministry will consist of 16 actions, including in the first place the legal reform, improved quality of management and service for local entities, greater transparency in terms of both the ministry’s performance and financing mechanisms. The latter is to be evidenced by quality education administered at schools, colleges and high schools. As he said, they will get large-scale financial support. “And those educational institutions which will not provide quality education, will not get such support,” Armen Ashotyan said.
He also stressed the importance of having a public respect of knowledge. As he said, mass media are supposed to wage a campaign with a view to making an asset of knowledge and learning.
