In the next three years it is planned to significantly raise the score needed to pass the centralized exams (CE) in secondary schools, raising it from 5% to 20%, as Latvian Minister of Education and Science Anita Muižniece told the media.
This is necessary because, according to the minister, 5% exam score is not enough to prove successful graduation from secondary school.
It is planned to the bar to be raised gradually. Each year in the next three years it will be raised by 5%. This means in the 2022/2023 school year the minimal passing score will be 10%, in 2023/2024 it will be 15% and in the 2024/2025 it will be 20%.
Muižniece admits there is a risk of many children ‘failing’. However, on the other hand 5% is not enough to prove a child has acquired sufficient knowledge to graduate.
For example, 657 children who attempted the centralized exams failed to achieve 5% score. 88 of them were 12th graders.
585 students failed their maths exam, 68 failed their Latvian language exam, two failed Latvia’s and world history, one failed national minority education programm’s Latvian language exam and another failed an English language exam.
«This is a clear signal they they and all others have to start taking school seriously […],» said Muižniece.
The minister invites taking into account that during the process to improve the education content experts also reviewed content of state exams. 20% of students who attempted exams meet the level of skills and knowledge needed to attempt higher education programmes.
While graduates of this year’s education programmes will be given their certificates even if they receive 5% score in centralized exams, next year graduates will have to score at least 10%.
At the same time, the minister adds that children who study in inclusive education programmes and have difficulties absorbing study materials will have access to a different approach and other conditions to pass exams.
Latvia to raise passing grades for centralized school exams
