On a voluntary basis: the exam in a foreign language is officially excluded from the list of mandatory

In Russia, there will be no compulsory USE in a foreign language, follows from the order of the Ministry of Education, which entered into force on January 4.

The document was published on a single Internet portal of legal information.

Foreign languages, including English, German, French, Spanish or Chinese, were included in the list of subjects that students take "on a voluntary basis of their choice."

At the same time, the USE in the Russian language and mathematics remained mandatory.

Along with foreign languages, physics, chemistry, computer science, biology, geography, history, social studies, literature, native language and native literature will be taken.

Recall that the Unified State Exam in a foreign language was originally supposed to become mandatory in 2022.

This became known in 2018.

It was assumed that the exam in a foreign language will be two-level, and trial tests will take place in 2021.

Subsequently, the feasibility of this decision was repeatedly discussed by representatives of educational departments and the public.

In July 2020, the Ministry of Education of Russia prepared a draft order according to which a foreign language will not be included in the number of compulsory subjects of the exam.

He spoke about the reasons for this decision in the State Duma.

Alena Arshinova, a member of the Committee on Education and Science, then explained that parents, teachers and experts in the field of education agreed that in many educational institutions it is not possible to provide the educational process within the proposed time frame.

The parliamentarians noted that before the introduction of the compulsory exam in a foreign language, it is necessary to create equal conditions for obtaining high-quality knowledge in these subjects throughout the country, including in small towns and villages.

USE in 2021

Earlier it became known that there will be no early uniform state examinations in 2021.

The USE will be available from May 31 to July 2.

The Ministry of Education explained that the early examination period in 2021 was canceled due to the current epidemiological situation.

As the head of the department, Sergei Kravtsov, explained later, the coming year will be "difficult" for schoolchildren who take the Unified State Exam.

The Minister drew attention to the fact that in connection with the measures taken against the background of the epidemiological situation, changes were made to the rules for passing exams.

So, said Kravtsov, the final essay or presentation in this academic year is scheduled for the second decade of April.

The state final certification for secondary general education programs in the USE format should take place from May 31 to July 2, the additional period of the USE is scheduled for the dates from 12 to 17 July.

Graduates who do not plan to enter universities will take the State Final Exam (GVE) in two subjects - Russian and mathematics.

Based on the results of this test, they will receive a certificate of secondary general education.

According to the ministry's plan, the State Final Exam for 11-graders will be held at the end of May, after which the main period of the Unified State Exam is scheduled.

In addition, ninth-graders will have to pass the State Final Attestation in Russian Language and Mathematics from May 24 to May 28.

Students who fail the exams during the specified period will be able to do so in the additional period scheduled for September.

As the ministry stressed, many decisions on the final examinations for schoolchildren were made "in the interests of the health and safety of all participants and organizers of examinations."

The head of Rosobrnadzor, Anzor Muzaev, also said that during the exams, all epidemiological safety measures recommended by Rospotrebnadzor, which have successfully proven themselves at the exam in 2020, will be applied.

According to him, these actions made it possible to prevent a new surge in morbidity after exams.

We add that in December Rosobrnadzor posted a navigator on its website to help prepare for the Unified State Exam (USE) and the Basic State Exam (OGE).

The section called "Navigator GIA" contains relevant materials for students and teachers for organizing classroom activities, as well as distance and self-preparation for the final certification.

The project is intended to make it easier for graduates and their teachers to find the information they need to prepare for exams, Rosobrnadzor noted.