Raising School Exam Barriers: by Esiat Gaurgashvili

In Georgia most of the students pass exams and the minister of education is going to raise the barriers in the future. He says: “In Germany only 30% of students receive School Certificates, but in Georgia 80% pass certificates and it means that we are more intelligent than they are. I don’t think it so. In my opinion it isn’t good idea, when the barrier is 5.5, it must be 6.5 or 7.5.”

The students in Pankisi always show good results, especially in English. Today I asked some students what they think about the minister’s decision. 18 year old Mariam says, “This year I have exams and I don’t think that the minister is making a good decision. If he raises the barriers it will be more difficult to pass.”

A 19-year-old, Leila said. “I have passed my exams and it is no problem for me, but I don’t think it is good way to make children suffer because of the School Certificates. If anyone wants to get a higher education, she or he has to pass national exams.”

I think that the exams aren’t easy today and if the barriers are raised, most of the students will fail.