Testing Initiative Project Ukraine 2003

Do you consider the system of exit (I) and entrance (II) exams to be transparent and objective?”, % Absence of objective comparative information about students’ educational achievements, data for education quality monitoring Absence of objective comparative information about students’ educational achievements, data for education quality monitoring Absence of common requirements for entering higher education establishments Absence of common requirements for entering higher education establishments Corruption in the sphere of education (exit-entrance examinations) Corruption in the sphere of education (exit-entrance examinations) I II

Goals of Testing Technologies Center Project: Development and approbation of the external testing model to ensure the monitoring of education quality and to create equal grounds for entering higher education establishments Development and approbation of the external testing model to ensure the monitoring of education quality and to create equal grounds for entering higher education establishments Create conditions for the establishment of external testing system on the national level to ensure continuity between secondary and higher education Create conditions for the establishment of external testing system on the national level to ensure continuity between secondary and higher education

Project participants and partners Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine Higher education establishments (scientific and technological support, staff training) Testing Technologies Center Regional Centers (4) Secondary schools (scientific and methodological support, work with students, parents and teachers) Academy of Pedagogy of Ukraine Educational Research Institutes Experiment on external assessment of students’ educational achievements (Order №409 of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine from ).Results of the certified testing can, as student wishes, be considered by schools as a state final attestation and, at the same time, as an entrance exam to defined faculties by universities participating in the experiment. Experiment on external assessment of students’ educational achievements (Order №409 of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine from ).Results of the certified testing can, as student wishes, be considered by schools as a state final attestation and, at the same time, as an entrance exam to defined faculties by universities participating in the experiment.

2003: pre-pilot testing – 1800 school graduates; certified testing – 3121 school graduates; university entrance testing – 502 participants. Were based on the principle of voluntary participation and additional chances

Lessons learnt from the project pilot stage: Negative: Universities do not want to drop their own technologies of conducting entrance exams. Universities do not want to drop their own technologies of conducting entrance exams. Schools are reluctant to accept the results of external testing and are afraid to lose their influence on final school grades. Schools are reluctant to accept the results of external testing and are afraid to lose their influence on final school grades. It takes time to convince the public that external testing is indeed objective and for a long term. It takes time to convince the public that external testing is indeed objective and for a long term.

Positive gains : Experiment testified that external testing is a real mechanism of reforming the examination system as well as a potential instrument of monitoring the education quality in Ukraine Experiment testified that external testing is a real mechanism of reforming the examination system as well as a potential instrument of monitoring the education quality in Ukraine The main trends of development of external testing technology and logistics are outlined (legal framework, system of saving secret information, systems of examination papers coding and encoding of results, rising the quality of test item as an instrument of measurement). The main trends of development of external testing technology and logistics are outlined (legal framework, system of saving secret information, systems of examination papers coding and encoding of results, rising the quality of test item as an instrument of measurement). Public opinion supports the implementation of external testing and considers it to be one of the few real reforms in the educational sphere Public opinion supports the implementation of external testing and considers it to be one of the few real reforms in the educational sphere

Impact on Educational Sphere: A joint press conference by the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine and TTC Project Director was held. Minister praised the IRF progressive initiative in “…adding objectivity to the process of entering higher education establishments and ensuring realization of equal access to quality education” ; mentioned “implementing external testing on the national level in 5 years” A joint press conference by the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine and TTC Project Director was held. Minister praised the IRF progressive initiative in “…adding objectivity to the process of entering higher education establishments and ensuring realization of equal access to quality education” ; mentioned “implementing external testing on the national level in 5 years” The Action Program of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in 2003 stipulates the need for introducing external assessment to monitor education quality. The Action Program of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in 2003 stipulates the need for introducing external assessment to monitor education quality. In the period between March 2002 and July 2003, over 50 articles on external testing initiative appeared in national and regional press. National and regional TV channels informed public about testing initiative in news and educational programs. In the period between March 2002 and July 2003, over 50 articles on external testing initiative appeared in national and regional press. National and regional TV channels informed public about testing initiative in news and educational programs.

Project Development: Expanding the specter of subjects tested as well as the network of regional testing centers (State budget: Ukrainian language) Expanding the specter of subjects tested as well as the network of regional testing centers (State budget: Ukrainian language) Monitoring studies of education quality on representative sample of students (State budget: mathematical literacy and reading with understanding) Monitoring studies of education quality on representative sample of students (State budget: mathematical literacy and reading with understanding)