Education Minister pushes for clearance for standard school leaving exams

The government on Wednesday agreed to introduce standard school leaving exams at the end of the upcoming school year. Minister of Education, Josef Dobeš pushed for clearance for the controversial step, which has been discussed for the last 14 years. He argued it is a vital component of promised education reform and standards setting for the sector. Many schools, pupils and parents have opposed a standard exam for the around 100,000 school leavers a year saying it threatens the quality of local schools. Around 180 high schools signed a protest petition this year. Schools have until now been able to set their own exams with the results that standards vary across the country.