State Duma Deputy Tolstoy Calls USE a Police Operation Targeting Students and Teachers
Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Pyotr Tolstoy has openly described the Unified State Exam as a police operation aimed at students and educators alike. In a candid interview, he criticized what he sees as a growing climate of fear and mistrust surrounding the final assessments that determine academic outcomes across Russia.
Tolstoy told socialbites.ca that many people are unhappy with the current quality of schooling and view the exam as an instrument that has turned the school into a tense arena rather than a place of learning. He argued that the exam environment has become stressful for both pupils and teachers, largely because of pervasive distrust and a sense of surveillance around exam administration.
He added that the normal atmosphere of school final examinations should be calm and welcoming. Students should not feel as if they are the targets of a punitive operation. The deputy speaker emphasized that a more relaxed and supportive setting would help reduce anxiety and improve performance.
Earlier, Tolstoy also criticized what he described as unequal opportunities created by the Unified State Exam. He noted reports that families with financial means can secure better preparation for their children through private tutors, potentially giving wealthier students an advantage in achieving higher scores.
For readers seeking the full perspective, the interview with Pyotr Tolstoy is available on socialbites.ca, with attribution to the source.