WILL THE SINGLE STATE EXAMINATION
SURVIVE UNTIL 2009?
VADIM AVANESOV
the doctor of pedagogical sciences, the professor of Educational Measurement
Problematic situation
State Duma accepted federal law "about the introduction of changes in the law of the Russian Federation" about the formation "and federal law" about the highest and poslevuzovskom vocational education ", in the part of conducting united state examination". This means that the introduced by previous law total state certification proved to be ineffective, which was discussed and earlier [ 1 ] , but to listen to they did not want, and that the now basic form of the certification of the graduates of schools must become united state examination (EGE). About the fact that this is the sequential error of educational policy, self-reliant authority to listen to also does not want. This is why a question about EGE is not trivial, but therefore it is subject to examination in this article.
Two opposite points of view prevail. Of them first adheres to Gosobrnadzor, the government organ, where they assume that in the process of six year old experimentation the basic problem of developings EGE are solved and now only it remained to scale the test for entire country accumulated there. The point of view of opponents is such: introduction EGE brings the perceptible harm on formation in the country, and therefore it must be ended. Before the introduction of the new law of opponents to listen to they did not want, as the saying goes, into the support. In the process of illegal experimentation with EGE it was difficult to explain illegality and harmfulness of government's actions on the educational field.
Now situation changed: appeared law, and together with it right and the responsibility of all participants in this of action, consonants or discordant with it. But this means that in contrast to the past years of uncontrolled and unaccountable experimentation, in 2007 government to obligated prepare and to publish present report on the sums EGE. It is completely probable that this report, if it appears, will be fairly discussed both by the supporters and by the opponents. Answer to the question, carry ouied into the title of this article, depends on that, in what measure individual citizens and educational establishments to the country will be informed and satisfied by the advanced by it estimations and the results of conducting EGE.
Question of scaling EGE to the territory of the entire country
Is ready EGE to scaling with the territory of the entire country? Long-standing experimentation and statements Of gosobrnadzora does not leave doubts about the answer to this question. They there assume that and examination itself and Russian Federation are ready to complete EGEizatsii of educational sphere. Previously it was intended to introduce EGE as the required in 2004. But to these assumptions not it was judged happen useful it would be to ask - why? There is no answer, but the matter, probably, in the metric unreliability of EGE itself. The existing results EGE are negligible from this point of view. Now they assume that like they are ready, but the influential opponents, who unexpectedly proposed the compromise, stirred: you introduce, but only since 2009. It is not accepted to be extended on the reasons for this transfer of period, but they assume that forthcoming on the constitution RF the presidential elections 2008 are one of the essential factors. But which will be after 2008, almost no one knows. To this period can occur such changes, which will make EGE by the absolutely not necessary to new authority.
For the beginning it is useful to focus attention on the periods of the progress of new law and its introduction into the life. It would seem, after the compromise accepted there is time in order to liquidate deficiencies in EGE itself and law connected with it. However, law was rapidly carry ouied in all three readings, in spite of the objections of opposition. The precise reasons for hurry are unknown, but authority does not consider it necessary to explain them.
It remains to assume the presence of a number of reasons. One of them - this is the nevertheless actual lack of preparation of examination to the introduction as the required. Quality EGE is not improved, in spite of the continuance of the expensive experimentation. Conducting EGE is accompanied by the yearly investigations of the mass overstatings of results and many contrivances, permitted by subjects, by the members of commissions and by the organizers of conducting EGE. Results EGE manufacture, especially in some, accurately known territories, predominantly national republics. But they do not hurry to draw someone to the responsibility for such actions, since there is no appropriate article of law, yes even now not time to aggravate national questions. The adoption of law, although action set aside on the time, will make it possible, by hypothesis, to overcome the emergent problem. It is possible to agree with this logic, because on this score there are facts.
Facts themselves arose in a strange manner. They proved to be unexpectedly promulgated not in the Russian press, but on the radio "freedom", in the western media, financed by the congress OF THE USA [ 2 ] . Possible reason for this puzzled publication - rotted conflict between the leader Gosobrnadzora and the director of the center of testing the ministry of formation and science. The latter, strictly, and published the scandalous data about the results EGE. For example. On one of the territories RF the results of students in chemistry only in one yr by strange means were improved 28 times!
The visible reason for conflict is completely objective: than more territories seized free, for the graduates of schools, Vol. n. "experiment EGE", by that smaller became the need for the paid centralized testing of high school seniors, the conducted center of testing. It is possible that the removal of the director of this center from the post subsequent recently is somehow connected with this fact of the arbitrary divulging of information about the actual unfitness EGE, in spite of the previously undertaken itself written obligations. True, obligations themselves were illegal, and they related not to the year of the promulgation of data, but to the year previous. The Attorney General's Office calls other reasons. All these years information on EGE passed under the heading "for the official use". The legality of this version of rotation with the publicly important information about the quality of pedagogical results is doubtful. But this already the object of special juridical trial.
What is the EGE?
As is known, any law requires the determination of its object. However, in article 15 of laws about EGE, for the first time in six years of the mentioned experiment, there was given long-awaited determination - that this such? It is there written: "united state examination is the form of the independent estimation of the level of the training achievements of the training with the use tasks of the standardized form (control measuring materials), whose fulfillment makes it possible to establish the level of the training achievements of trainers on the mastery of the federal component of the state educational standard of secondary (complete) general education".
In this definition OF EGE it is defined as the independent form of estimation. You will ask - from whom independent? There is no answer in the law, but there is confirmation, that the united examination carries out not educational establishment, but state. According to the unclouded logic of things this assertion can be understood as independence EGE from the children, the schools, the parents, the citizens and from the society. Which in many respects is confirmed by the present practice of its forced putting into action. But then it is obtained: EGE - this is the bureaucratic form of the activity of officials, independent from those citizens, whom they must, theoretically, serve. Such forms are remarkable also fact that they, as a rule, are not scientific. Which is confirmed also in the case with EGE, which pretends to be the form of pedagogical measurement, without being the same actually.
For the comparison. In the West there are public- controlled centers of the testing, where any citizen, on the strictly voluntary basis, can verify his preparedness to the mastery of one or other educational program or another. From their side, the centers guarantee objectivity and validity of the estimation obtained by subject. There is no state in this case, as there are no poor quality EGE and KIMs. In our process of state experimentation with EGE the subjects easily were converted in the experimental, since nedobrovol'nost' of participation in any experiences and experiments to eat the most essential sign of the forced disturbance of civil liberties. The very time to ask of the reader - and you do want so that after 2009 of your children state would constrain to answer the tasks EGE, whose quality they do guarantee neither objectivity nor accuracy nor objectivity?
In the discussed definition the inadmissible for the determinations of law assumption, based on the faith, is done, that EGE will make it possible "to establish the level of the training achievements of trainers on the mastery of the federal component of the state educational standard of secondary (complete) general education. The question here asserts itself: and for six years ago experimentations it did be possible to already establish anything on the part of the adoption of the standard indicated? Answer is not, it did not succeed. Because standards proved to be not those which is must [ 3 ] , yes even the monitoring and measuring materials (KIMs) mentioned in the law cause the mass dissatisfaction of teachers with their quality. Appeals to the quality of KIMs during "experiments did not start. Now, after the adoption of law, they are obligated to start, or to be appealed in the judicial order.
In that we believe
The chairman of committee SF on science, culture, formation, public health and ecology Victor shudegov believes that the united state examination will ensure the equal rights of obtaining formation, independently of the place of stay and income level of the citizens [ 4 ] . As if he does not know that it lives in the country of the amplifying, from year to year, super-excess economic inequality of population. This is the basis, which influences superstructure. Under these political and economic conditions EGE it can perform only distracting role, calculated for the neokrepshuyu psyche of the growing up generation. This generation can believe, but it can and not believe in the fact that "to us all ways are opened" with EGE. It is obvious that properly EGE questions of social inequality does not decide. However, visibility can create. Really this is a secret political reason for persistent introduction EGE?
Speaker the State Duma Boris Gryzlov also believes. He assumes that EGE will lower also the level of corruption in the sphere of formation. But corruption was not reduced in six past years, but it increased. Because of the noted inequality and the absence of authentic democratic public control, Russian formation already left, on the corruption, in the second place, after custom-house. Not randomly in last year on the level of korrumpirovannosti Russia descended from 90 places in the past year, to 126 places in that flowing, 2005, after falling into one group with Albania, by the Niger and Sierra Leone [ 5 ] .
Decision making on the basis of this type of irresponsible faith can be attributed to the special sphere of the arbitrariness of the persons, allotted, in view of the specific circumstances, authority to make decisions, on which depend fates of millions of citizens of the enormous country. Rights it was N.G.Chernyshevskiy, when it asserted that we into everything insert the idea of arbitrariness. In the case EGE the country entirely encountered by the full-scale arbitrariness of the faith, which does not desire to note the surrounding realias.
In the law with the determination OF EGE is used unsuccessful transfer from the English of the words, which express the idea of the "level of the training achievements of trainers". In the process of "scaling" OF EGE its essential side became not only the estimation of achievements, but also the directly opposite estimation of the absence of the same. But this means that this verbal revolution in the Russian language proved to be in the law it was indiscriminate to the object of evaluation. But the matter not in philology
Information instead of the secondary school graduation certificate
In the article of 27 laws, p.', is written that "to those, who did not complete the formation of this level, not passed state (total) certification or received on the state (total) certification unsatisfactory marks, reveals information about the instruction in the educational establishment of the established model. As long ago as 2008, with the planned cancellation of the secondary school graduation certificate, which greatly prevents conducting EGE, is possible mass, if we possible in other words, the rejection of the noticeable part studying, the not carrying out the subjective standards knowledge established By gosobrnadzorom. For example, in some territories to 40% of students they do not seize the specified course of mathematics. In consequence of which weak students now will obtain their twos and will supplement numbers of unemployed young people, whose quantity now - over the conceivable measure. In the unemployment of the least formed part of the young people it is necessary to see the roots of bitterness and aggressive behavior.
The application OF EGE in this case is the punitive action of state with respect to that part of the young people, which it, state did not be able. Or it did not want, to train. Therefore instead of EGE are necessary the programs of additional formation, social adaptation, accessible professional technical formation, support and so forth to teach is necessary all, who want and it can learn - here is the major principle of the normally controlled country. For the realization of this principle it is necessary not state examination, but qualitative systems of intra-higher educational and intra-school control.
From other side, the present practice of the distribution of certificates more than 99 to percent of the graduates of schools also it is not possible to count correct, because of this type irresponsible liberalism decreases training motivation and causes the degradation of the enlisted potential of the country. Although the mass delivery of information instead of the secondary school graduation certificates - also unacceptable means. Here reason is confused with the consequence. This problem must be solved not by means of EGE, but by an improvement in the training process, by the introduction of new educational technologies, by attraction into the school of good teachers. But precisely this on the required scales now is not done.
Useful to recall the words of German philosopher- humanist and teacher Paul natorp (1854-1924) which wrote in contrast the ideology EGE: "all children have equal right to the development, and less capable students have this right to an even greater degree, than children, gifted from nature". It is possible that in some pragmaticians this thought can cause smile. But hesitate in thought about the social consequences, let us say so, neobucheniya of less capable citizens. And then will be opened the abyss of the real problems, which are not fed to the solution with the aid of the speculative diagram EGE. In the country are multiplied the numbers of militant marginalov, deprived of the possibility to obtain qualitative formation, in the army they entrust weapon to illiterate draftees, international relations deteriorate, policy, the economy and mass culture begin to degrade.
Low quality of EGE&KIMs
? in the law it is asserted that the examination is conducted with the use of "tasks of the standardized form (control measuring materials, KIMs)". In EGE actually are used three forms of tasks. The first - this is the obsolete form of tasks with the selection of one correct answer of 4-5 answers, given to subject to the selection. In the answers of subjects the role of guessing and contrivances is high. To high ugadyvayemosti of correct answers contribute thousands of those specially created it is course on the delivery EGE, where teach not sciences, but object by the name "as to return EGE". There I work instructors, forced to take upon itself the function of "nataskivateley", as determined the Front-Bencher of Russian Empire 1907 I.Tolstoy. Them he required mercilessly to punish. But he made mistakes. Coaching is the phenomenon, caused by the poor quality, bureaucratic method of evaluation. Which control, the same becomes formation.
Since there is no objectivity in the application of tasks with the selection of one correct answer in the state examination, it is obvious that the determination OF EGE is very unsteady, is not had have proper scientific support. The second form of tasks - this is the open form, which does not be suitable, in principle, for mass studies to the form of the difficulties of complex tekhnologizatsii of the process of mass evaluation. The third form of tasks is the subjective, commission method of evaluation, and it is the most suitable means for the mass manufacture of results EGE.
Three mentioned forms of tasks are very questionable base for dividing EGE into three parts, evaluated by different marks. As a result of evaluating one part it is bad, or in no way they are combined between themselves. It turns out that to add them into the general test mark cannot! And this is not only discovery of the author of this article. So they write others, which to listen to they do not want. And accessible statistics confirms this.
Hopes for an improvement in the quality EGE after the adoption of this law and after 2009 hardly of opravdanny. Already it was necessary to write, and repeatedly that the main defects EGE are not juridical, although this plays role, but metric. From the point of view of pedagogical measurements EGE it is created as house without the actually existing project and without the foundation. Is not possible to measure well by one and the same collection of the tasks of doubtful quality the level of the preparedness of the subjects of different level of preparedness. This axiom supporters EGE to recognize do not hurry. It is difficult to believe, that of this type the position of supporters EGE will be kept constant up to 2009.
There are, however, hopes for complete liquidation, in the judicial order, poor quality EGE, as soon as will be published the complete results of their application. For retaining EGE its supporters in the government RF are forced to now study the fact, by which they did not want to be occupied se six years of uncontrolled experimentation - by improvement in so-called KIMs EGE. The latter, in the opinion of the author of this article, are not principally improved in view of their stressed-skin construction. If everything does go on this scenario, then answer to a question - will EGE live up to 2009? - it is completely expected.
Opinions about EGE
At the present time opinions relative to the advantages and disadvantages EGE noticeably were divided, if we do not say, they were polarized, with the general tendency toward a gradual increase in the number of those, who have negative opinion. The noted polarization led to the fact that official opinion polls give some data, while the independent sources indicate the directly opposite results.
In the number of enemies EGE - schoolboys with the low and average training achievements, and such we have majority, their voices now no one to hear wants, parents, majorities of teachers and scientists, especially in the Russian academy of sciences and Russian academy of formation. The latter fact convincingly testifies that the introduction EGE is implemented against the will of scientists and specialist- teachers, it has nothing in common either with the science or with the educational activity. About the same they speak the anonymity of the project of EGE itself, the secrecy of true results, nepodotchetnost' of the ministry of formation and science before the society and the public organizations. And this is - the main defect of the conducted educational policy, since without the participation of the community neither formation nor culture nor elementary order on the streets cannot be attain.
The Deputy Chairman komitet for science and formation of the State Duma Oleg smolin decided to open slightly the illegally elevated censorship and initiated official demand into the government about the idea into the State Duma of reports on the real results EGE and expenditures carried out in this case. There is weak hope, however, that up to 2009 will be succeeded in being dismantled with the answers to a question - that this in actuality EGE?
Already today teachers for the purpose of obtaining higher marks by students with the examination pass to elementary coaching, they learn not to reflect, to analyze, to compare, but to guess, establishes the Deputy Department Chief of the formation Of the tyndinskeyeo region. To what will lead large-scale experiment? To the creation of the new, independent system of the estimation of the quality of formation, and can, it will prove to be the large-scale error [ 6 ] .
With the sharp criticism of bill the senator Anatoliy korobeynikov appeared. The adoption of this law can strike formation system ", he, said. In his opinion, the introduction EGE negative will affect the quality of formation, since the proposed form of total certification not will contribute to the tendency to obtain fundamental knowledge, to develop logical thinking, but it will be directed faster "toward checking of mechanical memory". The chairman of Federation Council Sergey Mironov reported to journalists that he voted against the law. Despite the fact that the introduction EGE will contribute to the larger accessibility of formation, he emphasized, the practitioner of the application OF EGE it can negative be reflected in the quality of knowledge. According to the head of Federation Council, our system of formation always educated the thinking people, but now we imitate not the best international experience. "I consider that we make error, assuming this law", it noted S.M.Mironov [ 7 ] . There is hope, that to 2008-09 years this promising statesman, who defied the dictates of party "United Russia" will collect an even larger political weight and will end EGE.
In the western theory of professional selection has long ago been established the impossibility of creating the one- only universal method, suitable for the certification of raznourovnevogo contingent and, simultaneously, for the selection to all specialties of VUZ - Institute of Higher Education. The claim on the creation of a similar antiscientific utopia is asserted by means of EGE&KIMs. The data, existing in the regions, confirm the correctness of theory and inaccuracy EGE.
Not one democratically oriented state is right to erect the barriers before its citizens. This forbids the convention OF UNESCO for fight with the discrimination in education (Paris, on 14 December 1960 .). Russia ratified its and thus were taken upon itself the obligations: not to shut for any face or group of the persons access to the formation of any step or type; not to limit the education of any face or group of the persons; to ensure access to the formation equal for all.
Deficiencies of EGE
It is possible to name a number of reasons, why EGE is dangerous for the country:
- the revelry of corruption around EGE;
- transformation of EGE into the means of the enrichment of officials and businessmen due to the budget and the high school seniors;
- a dimensionless error in the estimations EGE. The inadmissible metric error EGE excludes making any intelligent decisions on basis EGE;
- the reduction of training work on all training disciplines only to the checked content EGE;
- the inadmissibility of the estimation of schools and students on the basis of poor quality estimations, with the inevitable hence practical conclusions;
- inevitable judicial investigations about the disturbance of the rights of personality by the application of poor quality estimations.
Further it is possible to speak about the losses by the students of the ability to write, to read, to develop speech and thinking if EGE will become, as it is provided by law, basic method of total certification.
There is the national aspect, which actually impedes introduction EGE in the multinational state. The Gossoviet of the Replic of Tatarstan and Ministry of Education of the republic propose to recognize the results of single state examination in the national languages of subjects RF together with EGE in the Russian. "to us it is very important so that the results of single republic examination (analog EGE in the Tatar language - IF) would be converted on scales of the Russian Federation", stated to agency "Interfaks- Volga Region" the Minister of Education and science of Rais Shaykhelislamov. Republic parliament introduced into the State Duma of Russian Federatin (RF) the appropriate legislation initiative "in our view in the bill about EGE, examined in the State Duma RF in first reading, is not reflected right to obtaining of formation on native language. We count, this direct disturbance also of the rights of man, and constitutions RF, and law about the formation [ 8 ] ".
To supporters EGE in the government RF it is good to hesitate in thought about the possibility of the appearance of this type of the completely natural of consideration about the role EGE in all remaining national, the regions, kray, and republics and to understand that in the national policy present EGE is introduced the destructive element.
And finally the introduction of law about EGE will require priyatiya of many law-subjected reports. Possibly, in the number of the first must it is necessary to assume articles about the penal responsibility of teachers, who help to the students to successfully return EGE. It is interesting, how much places on the bunks will have to prepare for such teachers? Another question - as to avoid the manufacture of results EGE in all sections of delivery EGE. In the post-Soviet republics for this purpose the organs of national security are drawn. It is calculated, that in Russia for the complete cover EGE from the manufacture will be required the contingent, equal to approximately 15 divisions FSB.
Conclusion
Up to 2009 there is another time to think about the presented here questions. And to forego this EGE. Instead of this it is necessary to pack means into the formation, to create the systems of the automated monitoring of the training activity of students and students, with the computer and pedagogical support of each student in the process of overcoming the appearing difficulties in the training process. On the introduction of educational technologies in the training process RF strongly it lags behind many countries. According to the official statistics on 11 students is fallen only one computer, while in many countries - on one for each. Illegal experiment on the introduction EGE, introduced for the purpose of the total commercialization of the sphere of formation, rejected the country still further from the developed countries of peace.
Useful can prove to be the national (not state, but public- professional) qualitatively testing, on the voluntary basis, which adapts in all countries, which have developed higher school and systems of the professional selection of personnel. Present EGE by its poor quality testopodobnymi KIMs sequential time discredits test methods. This EGE of Russia is not necessary . The greater the number of citizens they do realize the perniciousness of the introduction of this examination on scales of the entire country, the greater will become the probability of negative answer to the presented question - will live EGE up to 2009?
[ 1 ] Avanesov V.S. Certification is necessary, but other. "Управление в школе" April 1999, р. 5
[ 2 ] D yryavye examinations. The federal center of testing promulgated information about the results of united state examination in the regions. http://www.svoboda.org/programs/edu/2005/edu.071305.asp ; ? ? the results of united state examination in Russia in 2005. Radios "freedom" from 29-06-05.
[ 3 ] Cm. "state educational standards as the means of the guarantee of quality of formation under the conditions of reforming the social sphere of //Pod is general red.M.V.Ryzhakova and A.A.Nelyubina. Scientifically- expert council with the chairman of the Federation Council of the federal meeting of the Russian Federation. Publication Of the Federation Council, M. 2006 . There see Avanesov V.S. educational standards they are necessary, but others "s. 33-37. Complete text http // testolog . narod . ru
[ 4 ] http://www.poisknews.ru/2007/02/09/sovet_.federacii.html
[ 5 ] After pricking R. sud'ba YuKOSa it frightened the business: An increase in the corruption in our country international experts connect, in the first place, with the political processes// the independent newspaper, on 19 October 200shchg. of s.".
[ 6 ] EGE as the large-scale error: Survey THE MEDIA Of the Amur Region. www.regnum.ru/news/772724.html ? 04:01 27.01.2007
[ 7 ] http://www.poisknews.ru/2007/02/09/sovet_.federacii.html
[ 8 ] Tatarstan speaks in favor of the acknowledgement of results EGE in the national languages with the entering into any VUZ - Institute of Higher Education of Russia . 17.01.07. http://www.ctege.org/page.php?.pageid=2456