Slovakia: Romani language, literature become subjects for school graduation exams

The Slovak Education Ministry is expanding its decree listing the topics in which students can be examined before high school graduation to include art, culture, the Romani language and literature. The daily SME.sk reports that first-year students entering bilingual high schools in the next academic year will be able to choose to eventually take a graduation exam in a second foreign language at the advanced C1 level of linguistic difficulty as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The decree says the new exam will be offered as of the 2016-2017 academic year. Currently candidates for graduation can chose between the more demanding B2 level (intermediate) and the simpler B1 test (less advanced).

The ministry says the bilingual schools are to prepare their pupils for graduation in their selected subjects such that they can continue in further study at home and abroad. They need to achieve the C1 level at least in order to be able to really communicate.

The list of graduation exam topics is being expanded to include art, culture, the Romani language and literature. It was argued that art and culture should be included since they are required subjects at academic high schools. The ministry included the Romani language and literature on the list after completing its experimental verification of a Romani curriculum at selected schools.

The full article (in Slovak) can be read at: http://www.sme.sk/c/5936368/romovia-budu-moct-maturovat-v-rodnej-reci.html