The first stage of the certification exam for all subjects concludes this year. In the second stage, teachers will become more closely acquainted with the system and existing requirements.
For this reason, suggestions are being made on social media that the principle of incorrect answers deducting correct answers should be applied in the teachers' exam during the second stage of certification.
At the same time, the issue that only the minimal skills of teachers were checked in the first stage and that the level of questions will change in the next stage is also frequently brought up.
Education expert Ramin Nurəliyev gave a statement to AzEdu.az regarding the topic.
He noted that concessions can be made to students, but not to teachers:
“This is a teacher's exam. Although errors do not affect correct answers in the graduation exam for applicants, in the admission (block) exam stage, incorrect answers affect the result of correct answers – four incorrect answers deduct one correct answer.
I believe that this principle should also be applied to teachers' certification exams. I do not consider the approach where incorrect answers do not affect correct answers in teachers' exams to be correct. Because this is a teacher's exam, and teachers are evaluated based on the specialization they have taught for years.
I am not in favor of applying any concessions here. Concessions can be made to students, but not to teachers. If we want our education to develop and take shape in a certain direction in the future, then we must also approach the applied rules and regulations with respect.”
A teacher should not have the concept of “perhaps”:
“Unfortunately, those who express the most dissatisfaction are precisely the teachers who failed the certification exam. Yet, that teacher has been teaching their specialization for years, but cannot even achieve a 50 percent result in their specialization in the certification exam. Not achieving a 50 percent result, i.e., getting a 'two' (a failing grade), is a serious indicator for a teacher.
For this reason, I believe that applying any concession here is incorrect. This would mean simplifying the exam. If incorrect answers do not affect correct answers, the exam will inevitably become easier. In this case, a teacher might answer all questions with the principle of 'maybe it will stick.' But a teacher should not have the concept of 'perhaps'.
If a teacher carries out the teaching process in their specialization, they must express a concrete and reasoned attitude towards the questions and know their answers precisely. It is precisely for this reason that I am absolutely not in favor of applying any concessions in this matter.”
