29.05.2018
Dynamics of Ukrainians’ attitude to EIT (ZNO)
- According to the results of a study conducted by the Rating Group, over the ten years since the introduction of External Independent Testing (EIT, ZNO) for admission to higher education institutions in Ukraine, public attitudes toward it have improved significantly. In May 2008, only about one quarter of respondents supported (definitely or rather supported) the introduction of EIT instead of university entrance exams. By May of this year, this figure had reached 52%, and nearly 75% among those who had personally taken the EIT tests.
- The younger the respondents and the higher their levels of income and education, the more likely they are to support the idea of replacing entrance exams with EIT. Support is also somewhat higher in western regions and among those who have experience with EIT (either personally or through their children or grandchildren), and somewhat lower in the East and among those without such experience.
- A similar trend is observed in assessments of the fairness of EIT. Ten years ago, only 26% believed that EIT allows for a fairer assessment of applicants’ knowledge, whereas this year the share of optimistic respondents reached 52%. Importantly, belief in the fairness of EIT is much more common among those who have taken the tests themselves (70%) than among those without such experience (45%).
- Forty percent believe that admission to higher education institutions is possible without corruption, which is almost double the level recorded in 2008 (22%). Moreover, 46% believe that the introduction of EIT helps combat corruption in university admissions, compared to 19% in 2008. Once again, optimism is more prevalent among younger and middle-aged respondents, those with higher incomes and education, residents of western regions, and those who have experience taking EIT and generally support it.
- Nearly half of respondents (48%) believe that EIT creates equal conditions for admission to higher education institutions for everyone, regardless of financial means. At the same time, 31% hold the opposite view, and one in five are undecided. Interestingly, belief in equal conditions is more common among people with middle and high incomes than among the poor and low-income groups, and more common among younger people than among the older generation. In addition, 38% of respondents are definitely or rather convinced that the introduction of EIT has improved the quality of secondary and higher education in Ukraine (somewhat more often among those who have experience taking EIT), while the same share believes the opposite, and one quarter are undecided.
- At the same time, 45% of respondents do not rule out the possibility that falsification of EIT results may occur. Twenty-six percent do not believe this is possible, and another 30% could not answer. Skepticism is more often observed among residents of western regions, men, and those who do not support EIT. Notably, distrust in EIT is somewhat higher among parents than among those who have personally taken the tests.
- According to respondents, the main advantages of EIT are objectivity of assessment through the elimination of the human factor (32%), reduction of corruption in university admissions (28%), and ensuring equal access to higher education regardless of an applicant’s financial situation (27%). About 20–21% also cite bringing Ukrainian education closer to European standards and improving the efficiency of student selection for higher education institutions, while 16% mention improving the quality of secondary and higher education. Thirteen percent believe EIT has no advantages at all, and one in five are undecided.
- At the same time, the main disadvantages of EIT identified by respondents include the difficulty and imperfection of the tests (31%), the need for additional tutoring (29%), and frequent changes to testing rules (26%). One in five considers the deepening inequality between ordinary and privileged schools to be a major drawback, 17% point to a decline in the quality of school education, 16% to the inability to assess students’ creative abilities, and 14% to imperfections in the grading system. Only 5% believe that EIT has no disadvantages, while one quarter are undecided.
- More than half (52%) of those who personally took EIT or whose children did so used private tutors in preparation for the tests, while 43% did not. Tutoring services were used more often by people with higher incomes and by urban residents, while no significant regional differences were found.
- Forty-one percent of respondents support the decision not to administer EIT in the subject “Russian language” starting in 2018, while 35% oppose this initiative and another quarter are undecided. The highest support for this decision is found among residents of western regions, rural residents, young people (under 25), wealthier respondents, and those who generally support EIT and have experience with it or whose children plan to enter higher education institutions in the near future. In contrast, the strongest opposition is observed in the East and South, among the oldest and poorest respondents, and among those who do not support EIT, have not taken it, and whose children do not plan to enter higher education institutions in the near future.
- At the same time, nearly half (47%) support the idea of introducing a mandatory EIT test in a foreign language, while 27% oppose it and an equal share are undecided. This idea is more popular among parents of prospective applicants, urban residents, and wealthier citizens than among those whose children are not yet planning to apply, rural residents, and lower-income groups.
- Eleven percent of respondents reported that their children intend to enter higher education institutions within the next three years, while 85% do not have such plans. The highest share of those whose children plan to apply to universities is found among middle-aged respondents, those with higher incomes, and residents of western regions.
- Over the past ten years, 12% of respondents have personally taken EIT tests, and another 20% reported that their children or grandchildren have done so. Two thirds of respondents under the age of 35 have had experience taking these tests within the last ten years.
Methodology
- Audience: residents of Ukraine aged 18 and older. The sample is representative in terms of age, gender, region, and settlement type.
- Total sample: 2000 respondents.
- Personal formalized interview (face-to-face).
- The margin of error does not exceed 2.2%.
- Fieldwork dates: 3-8 May 2018
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