News

14 December 2022

The legislative proposal made by the Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva whereby graduates shall get a second chance for evaluation if they are not satisfied with the results of the matriculation for the purposes of entry to higher schools has been endorsed and submitted in Parliament by the MPs from four parliamentary groups. Today the chairperson of the Education Committee Krasimir Valchev (GERB-SDS) and MPs Elisaveta Belobradova (DB), academician Nikolay Denkov and Hristo Simeonov (PP), and Galen Monev (“Bulgarian Rise”) filed the Ombudsman’s proposal, which could be reviewed by the respective standing committees even before the Christmas and New Year holidays. 

In the end of November 2022, the Ombudsman submitted the proposal in Parliament. The amendments seek to give graduate students who have obtained unsatisfactory results at the matriculation a one-time chance to sit the next matriculation in the same school within one year as of the former test.

Prof. Kovacheva proposed in particular an amendment of Article 132 of the Pre-School and School Education Act as well as a supplement to Article 68, para 1 of the Higher Education Act.

The amendment of Article 132 of the Pre-School and School Education Act seeks to allow for improving graduate students’ matriculation results and enhancing their opportunities to access the higher education system.

“The fact that students who in their opinion have not performed well at the state matriculation test have no chance to improve their grades is to their detriment regarding their further development. The grade obtained at the state matriculation test is final and decisive for their enrollment in a higher school, respectively essential for their future”, the Ombudsman states in the reasons for the proposed legislation.

Diana Kovacheva is positive that the lack of such an opportunity has negative consequences when graduate students apply to enroll in the selected higher school.

“A certificate shall be issued to attest their grade if it is higher. Therefore, a supplement to the provision of Article 68, paras 1 and 2 of the Higher Education Act has been proposed as well, so that the certificates are recognized when applying in higher schools”, the public defender points out.