Math Teachers Say Mass Exam Failings Ahead
As of 2014, the minimum score needed on the state exams to pass high school will be rised from 20 to 50 percent. This change will coincide with making the mathematics exam mandatory for all students, and teachers fear mass failing.
Last year, a third of students failed a trial for the mathematics exam, which becomes compulsory this year. In some schools, entire classes failed the trial exam, according to the teachers' newspaper Õpetajate Leht.
The paper's editor in chief, Kalle Muuli, told ETV that the average result for the state exam is currently under 50 percent in tens of schools.
“The change from 20 to 50 is too steep. There are other figures between the two, like 30 or 40,” said Muuli. He said the state is attempting to create strong high schools too fast, at the expense of ruining some people's lives.
Allar Veelmaa, a high school mathematics teacher, said it is not too late to change back the minimum requirement to 20 percent.
But Muuli said the minister of education, Jaak Aaviksoo, is unlikely to be persuaded.
“The goal is right, in principle - to create strong high schools and even out the students' level. We are dealing with a simple law change here, and if new information has emerged - and I believe it has - then it's not strange for the Ministry of Education to change the law,” said Muuli.