Tests instead of final state attestation introduced in schools of Kyrgyzstan

Tests instead of the final state attestation (FSA) continue to be introduced in schools of Kyrgyzstan. Artur Bakirov, director of the National Testing Center, told 24.kg news agency.

According to him, the day before, on April 19, tests were held in Issyk-Kul region. «The process was launched last year, the schools of the regional centers got into the sample group then, about 5,000 school leavers were tested. This year, schools throughout the Issyk-Kul region were added. Totally, we will cover 9,500 graduates. Testing for the remaining schools in the regional centers (Tokmak was chosen in Chui region instead of Bishkek) will be held on April 26," the head of NTC said.

«Traditional exams are still preserved. Commissions will be formed at schools as usual. Those who received an unsatisfactory grade for the tests are able to retake the exam during June final state attestation. This year, we want to look again at the result, exclude mistakes, after which the Ministry of Education and Science will make a decision. Students like the test, teachers too," Artur Bakirov said.

«25 days of examinations in the summer heat are exhausting. And one can pass the test and then calmly prepare for the Nationwide Testing. And then, the whole world switches to this form. Testing excludes subjectivity, direct contact «teacher-student». The test will show a more objective assessment, no matter what relationship the schoolchildren and the teachers had," the head of the NTC added.

«We moved away from elementary tests with multiple choices of answers. We have four formats of tasks, including short written answers, which more widely reveal the abilities of the student," Artur Bakirov said.

In 2016, more than 30 percent of 11-graders, who passed standardized tests instead of the final state attestation (FSA), got «F» in mathematics.