The education system must prepare for matriculation exams on electronic devices and digitization of the examination process .
This was stated on bTV by the Acting Minister of Education Galin Tsokov, quoted by BTA.
We are discussing matriculation exams gradually starting to be applied to electronic devices, as is the case with the matriculation exam in information technology, said Tsokov and added that in many countries this is already a fact. Our educational system must gradually prepare for this, because then there will be no mistakes, noted Tsokov. It is necessary to experiment in trial matriculation exams, there should be a broad dialogue with parents in order to make such a decision, because this means additional equipment of the school with relevant electronic devices, as well as preparing the tests and providing an electronic environment, noted Galin Tsokov.
In more than 750 schools across the country, matriculation exams are held, we work with a shortage of time, in 15-20 minutes the materials for 200 to 300 matriculation students in one school have to be printed, explained the process the minister of education. He said principals have been stressed to be cautious about printing the exam papers. We will make a comprehensive analysis of the matriculation exams and the external assessment in order to make decisions in the future, said Tsokov.
Regarding the changes to the national external assessment, the education minister expressed hope for higher results in these exams, mainly on the basis that students will be more relaxed because they will have 15 minutes more during the first module in Bulgarian language and literature. Separating the dates of the national external assessment exams and the exams after the 10th grade, according to Minister Tsokov, will give greater peace of mind to the quaestors, who had to do two exams in one day. The students will have one more week to prepare for the national external assessment after the seventh grade, said Tsokov.
Regarding tomorrow's graduation for fourth-graders, Galin Tsokov recalled that it starts at 10:00 a.m. and will last 60 minutes. Fourth-graders perform very well, the results of international comparative studies show, said Tsokov
Regarding salaries in the higher education system, the caretaker minister recalled that two tranches have already been transferred to the universities, and the last one should be transferred towards the end of June. The minister assured that funds will be found because representatives of all political forces represented in the parliament have signed up for this, together with the trade unions and the acting minister of finance. Money will be found, this is the assurance of the politicians, of the official authority, but also, I hope, of the next regular government, declared the official minister of education.