The Ministry of Education and Science is preparing to revoke the part of the national external assessment after 7th grade, which includes tasks with elements from the natural sciences. The format of the exam and the duration remain the same as in the model proposed for this year. This was announced by the Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev.
The decision is related to the latest ruling of the Administrative Court - Sofia, which creates uncertainty, especially in the current political situation.
“To avoid unpredictability in the system, the exam for seventh graders will be with 24 entirely mathematical tasks,” explained Minister Valchev.
He clarified that the national external assessment for 4th and 10th grades remains unchanged - as it was approved before the start of the school year.
It was foreseen that the national external assessment in mathematics in 7th grade would include 6 integrated tasks from the areas of biology and health education, humans and nature, chemistry and environmental protection, physics and astronomy, and geography and economics.
A new order from the Minister of Education and Science is currently being prepared, which will partially amend the one approved last August and will only cancel the inclusion of tasks from other subject areas in the mathematics exam. The aim is to ensure peace of mind and predictability of the system in the coming months.
Earlier this week, Minister Krasimir Valchev held a number of meetings and talks on the topic, including with the complainants against the introduction of the integrated tasks. The participants agreed that, given the current impossibility of continuing the planned reforms for the normal functioning of the system, it is more appropriate for the part that is being challenged to be revoked.