Cichanoŭskaja and Łukašenka slam new high school tests

May 31, BPN. Belarusian strongman Alaksandr Łukašenka and exiled opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja have both denounced the new standardized tests for high school graduates, following complaints of unfair grading and lack of transparency.

The education ministry introduced the tests this year, saying they would help students show their objective level of knowledge. But many students and parents were outraged when the results of the language test were announced two days ago, claiming they were lower than expected and the scoring system was unclear.

Education Minister Andrej Ivaniec dismissed the allegations of injustice and accused citizens of spreading “fake news.”

But yesterday Łukašenka criticized officials for using a complicated digital method instead of “creating a regular, comprehensive system.” After that, the education ministry announced that it would set up a commission to investigate the scoring process.

Cichanoŭskaja said the education authorities had tried to shift the blame to the people instead of admitting their fault. She accused Łukašenka of interfering only to show that “the king is good and the nobles are bad.”

The tests have added to the public discontent in Belarus, where more than 35,000 people have been arrested and thousands beaten by police since the August 2020 vote, which the opposition and the West denounced as rigged.