After the Resonant NMT in Odesa Region, UCEQA Called to Expand the Network of Testing Centers in Shelters
After the resonant situation during the national multi-subject test in Odesa region, where due to a prolonged air raid alert children took the exam for almost 13 hours, society is actively discussing the testing conditions and the observance of applicants' rights. To clarify all circumstances, the director of the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment, Tetiana Vakulenko, was invited to the Verkhovna Rada.
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science and Innovations reported that the UCEQA provided detailed explanations regarding the action algorithm on the test day and the measures taken locally due to the air raid alert.
The committee noted that according to the regulations, all NMT participants had the opportunity to postpone the test to an additional session. Temporary examination center staff informed children and their parents about this possibility and offered to use it. At the same time, according to UCEQA, the vast majority of participants and their parents asked to continue waiting for the air raid alert to end and resume working on the test afterward.
The committee also reported that test participants were provided with water and snacks. Additionally, each applicant could stop taking the NMT at any moment and receive permission to participate in the additional testing session.
According to the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment, on June 8, 1,349 participants appeared for testing in Odesa region. Of these, 1,022 took the NMT in temporary examination centers located outside shelters.
Among all participants, 105 people applied to participate in the additional session. Thus, about 10% of applicants used the right to postpone the test to another day, although this option was available to all participants.
Furthermore, the UCEQA proposed paying special attention to creating a larger number of temporary examination centers specifically in shelters. It is believed that this will simplify the organization of testing during air raid alerts and help avoid similar situations in the future.
Recall that a petition was submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers calling to cancel the NMT during the martial law period and introduce alternative admission mechanisms to higher education institutions.
The petition authors emphasize that during the NMT, students are forced to be under constant threat of missile strikes, frequent air raid alerts, and prolonged stays in shelters. In this regard, the petition authors ask the government and the Ministry of Education and Science to abandon mandatory NMT during martial law and develop alternative admission mechanisms to higher education institutions. Possible options include entrance exams directly at universities or other forms of assessment determined by the Ministry of Education and Science.
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