Bulgarian students staged a protest against the introduction of the obligatory matriculations in front of Education Ministry building in downtown Sofia on Wednesday. Photo by Kameliya Atanasova (Sofia Photo Agency)
Bulgarian students staged a protest against the introduction of the obligatory matriculations in front of Education Ministry building in downtown Sofia on Wednesday.
The students claimed they have not been adequately prepared for passing such exams because of the current school program.
"Matriculation exams will be held and the students know this fact for years," Education Minister Daniel Valchev said categorically.
"I am inclined to discuss in the near future the range of the exams' elements with the students," he added.
Students from 16 towns around the country gathered last week at a press conference aimed at attracting the public attention on the issue.
They have united in an organization called The Class of Unity.
The school students will stand against the introduction of the obligatory matriculations because they believe this way the graduating students are deprived from equal opportunities.
The youngsters think the obligatory matriculations are unneeded, subjective and are not a relevant way to assess students' knowledge and abilities.
If the Ministry of Education does not abolish the obligatory matriculations, parents of the students are ready to launch a legal suit against it.
Until now graduating students had to take their matriculation exams in literature and maths only if their marks from the five years in high school in those two subjects were below B.