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Zhirov Vyacheslav Fedorovich
Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation
Moscow, Russia
Director of the Information Technologies Center
PhD, the senior lecturer
Financial aspects of united state examination and application of
information technologies
1. Financial expenses
Since 2008 financing of expenses [1,2] on the organization and
carrying out USE (united state examination) is carried out from following
sources:
1. The federal budget (means of the Federal program of
development of education );
2. Budgets of subjects of the Russian Federation;
3. Local budgets;
4. Means of educational and other specialized establishments.
In 2001-2005 of an expense for the organization and carrying out
USE of means of the federal budget made:
Jaroslav Kuzminov, the rector of the the Higher School of Economics
(HSE), Moscow, Russia, has informed, that expenses on USE in 2009
make 800 million roubles [3].. Affirms as, that expenses for drawing up
CMM (CMM - control and measuring materials or tests) are equal about
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70 million. Other means are spent for the organization of carrying out of
examination.
« As a whole for carrying out of experiment with USE since 2001
from means of the federal budget it has been spent 370 million dollars [4],
and approximately as much - from means of regional and municipal
budgets. Plus grants which were received by heads and organizers USE
from World Bank and other international organizations. It turns out, that
for 7 years on USE it is spent nearby 1 billion dollars. », Sergey Komkov,
the President of the All-Russia fund of education, confirmed. .
2. Expenses of entrants in 2009 г. have increased
Expenses of entrants have increased, entrants came to the Moscow
high schools personally to hand over documents, and they had to be late
for some weeks pending results in next "wave" [5].
The quantity of PEP (persons enjoying privileges) has many times
over increased in 2009.
In several capital high schools the quantity of persons enjoying
privileges (PEPs), at separate faculties, has exceeded 50 % from the
common number of budgetary places. « And if with the right of prizewinners
of the All-Russia school Olympiads to act without examinations
their contempoparies did not argue almost, the hors concours reception of
invalids and deprived, many entrants have considered orphans unfair »
[5].
« We tell, at faculty of journalism of the Moscow State University at
checkpoints 323 points enlisted PEP with the sum less than 200 points.
Validity of the similar approach teachers of high schools put under doubt ,
teachers afraid, that sessions in accordance with general practice
students with such level of preparation are unable. In mass-media in the
meantime there was an information that cost of the faked inquiry
on physical inability changed from 25 thousand up to 80 thousand
rbl. » in this summer.
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The increase in material inputs at the selection entrant committees is
connected with sharp increase in quantity of applications [5].
« Hard work led to inevitable mistakes : on the Internet it is a lot of
histories how the entrant, recommended to transfer, unexpectedly left in a
reserve already after has taken away documents from all other high
schools, as the competitor, not considered earlier, was found out in him
with higher points ».
3. Variants of the USE informatization
3.1. System informatization
Considering current process of application of information
technologies in USE, it is possible to see, that there is a break in use of
technology of electronic documents by use paper, that essentially
complicates and raise the price of the organization works.
At what, now existing organization USE demands big single
expenses (if investment of this money in the Internet and computers it is
possible to use the appeared opportunities constantly), only for period
USE, about 1 billion roubles a year, not including expenses of parents
which are difficult for estimating.
It is very complex organization of works on USE, which purpose to
check up knowledge of graduates and simultaneously to provide access to
high schools without examinations by results of USE.
Paper documents all over again are printed from a computer in the
forms of testing, and then forms are entered into computers by means of
scanning, then certificates are again printed from a computer, then these
certificates are again entered into computers in the selection entrant
committee of high school.
Such technology essentially complicates and raise the price of the
organization of works on release of schoolboys and their reception in high
school.
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Thus it is difficult to provide safety of transfer of the information so
the information is accessible on paper carriers long time . Three variants
of information leakage are possible: from composers of tests, from a
printing house, from FTC (FTC -Federal Test Center).
The modern Internet, to which schools and high schools are
connected, enables to construct essentially new technology.
In October, 2007 Dmitry Medvedev, being the first vice-premier, has
informed, that all the Russian schools for today are connected to the
Internet [http://www.cnews.ru/news/top/index.shtml?2007/10/26/272275].
Thus, the program internet educational institutions has been finished
before planned term. In total within the limits of national project
" Education " to internet is connected 53 thousand schools.
The technology, offered in this article, can capture a lot of
graduates, approximately 80 % - 90 % as the condition of the Internet at
different schools differs.
The same as in existing technology, in the beginning of carrying out
USE the information on schoolboys (registration data, the passport, etc.)
and tests is loaded into database FTC (FTC -Federal Test Center).
In new technology it is offered to schoolboys to inform for testing to
them logins and passwords, on which they can enter far off through the
Internet on the server of testing. The server of testing can be placed in
FTC, RIPC (RIPC - Region Information Processing Center)
and etc. ( which are incorporated by a network of data transmission).
There are means of protection by means of which it is possible to
connect the concrete schoolboy to a concrete computer, to provide safe
transfer of the information on the Internet (enciphering of files and
channels) and besides having supplied a computer (10000 rbl.)
webcamera (1000 rbl.) and a microphone (100 rbl.), it is possible to
observe and listen far off, that happens on a computer and in an
audience.
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Thus inspectors during carrying out of examination should not run on
classes, it is enough to have the centralized board of the control.
It is necessary to consider a different condition of schools in regions,
therefore without the Internet it is possible to apply to schools C - USE
[http://www.ege.ru],
In schools without computers, it is possible to apply existing
procedure of manual filling of forms and transfers to schools by mail,
If the schools are not connected to the Internet or connected through
bad channels then expenses for improvements of the Internet for USE will
pay back application of the Internet in daily training. Testing can be spent
permanently.
After passage of testing, the schoolboy balls write in a database,
which schoolboy can see .
In offered technology if the schoolboy will want to enter the institute
he addresses to database FTC (FTC -Federal Test Center) with the login
and the password, and on the screen an application form pops up, in
which he specifies high school and a speciality, as the information on
identification of the schoolboy already is in base.
In this case, in a database it is possible to set border on quantity of
applications, which the schoolboy (for example, 5, according to
recommendations M. Eskindarov , the rector of Finance Academy under
the Government of the Russian Federation Moscow, Russia) can
generate.
Further from database FTC the applications are transmitted in
bases of high schools (on the Internet), and high schools, using the control
information system "Entrant", range entrants and hang out on the site lists
of the first entrant wave, then the second entrant wave and etc.
If the entrant sees the surname on a site of high school, he can
arrive to high school with original documents , till this moment he is at
home and works through the Internet.
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3.2. Stage-by-stage informatization
For realization of the described technology it is required to improve
the Internet at schools, to add programs in database FTC and to introduce
in high schools an information subsystem "Entrant" which will range, wil
remove results on a site of high school, will enter the information from
original documents.
For input of the information from original documents in a subsystem
"Entrant" all registration information from base FTC, in particular, the
passport, points, etc. all over again is loaded, then the employee of a
selection entrant committee on a computer or through the scanner from
the form enters the additional biographical particulars of the entrant
necessary in high school.
4. Carrying out USE now
4.1. Introduction
Since 2009 the basic form of certification of graduates of schools
became united state examination (USE) according to the law:
About modification in the law of the Russian Federation « about
education » and the federal law « about the supreme and the afteruniversity-
level education vocational training » regarding carrying out of
united state examination. The president of the Russian Federation of V.
Putin. Moscow, the Kremlin on February, 9th, 2007 N 17-ФЗ.
[http://pedsovet.org/component/option,com_mtree/task,viewlink/link_i
d,2683/Itemid,118/]
With 2009 rules of reception in high schools have radically changed.
The resident learning entrants are accepted only by results of USE. The
following categories of entrants have allowed to pass examinations at
receipt high school :
1. children with limited opportunities,
2. acting on correspondence and evening branches,
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3. acting on the second the high education,
4. to graduates training college, continuing education on the
chosen profile speciality in high school.
4.2. The simplified algorithm of carrying out USE
The described simplified algorithm of carrying out (united state
examination) differs from real procedures of carrying out USE in different
regions, it is necessary to outline principles of carrying out USE. USE
consists of several steps.
Lists of graduates from EE (EE - Educational establishments: school,
college and etc.) and tests from FIPM ([2] Federal institute of pedagogical
measurements ») are gathered in federal databases (FDB USE [4,5]) FTC
(the Federal Center of Testing []).
Verification of lists of graduates EE is carried out.
(The questionnaire; surname, patronymic,name; the passport; the
examinations, planned for delivery, and , etc.). Calculation of necessary
quantity CMM (CMM - control and measuring materials or tests) is spent.
Tests (CMM) on forms (paper) are printed out for each schoolboy. Some
days prior to examination necessary quantity of CMM is transfered from
FTC in RIPC (the Regional center of processing of the information)
In RIPC complete sets CMM are printed on paper form for each
schoolboy in PCE (PCE - Places Carry Exam). Forms with tests in the
sealed envelopes are transmitted in PCE, and the schoolboy during
direct carrying out USE receives the form of tests on a paper and fills
answers to the form.
The filled forms from schools are transmitted in RIPC and there are
scanned, verified, and they are transmitted by the special ciphered file on
the special ciphered channel to the FTC for calculation of scaling of
each schoolboy.
Scaling (the assignment of an integer which is describing a level of
readiness of the schoolboy in a subject and being a range from 0 up to
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100 inclusive) is carried out on mathematical model in FTC at reception of
results from all regions of Russia. Processed (for several days) results,
marks, are transmitted from FTC in RIPC , are loaded into a DB, are
printed out reports and stand out in each area.
Marks (results of united state examination - USE) are printed out
on a paper (certificate USE) and given the schoolboy.
The schoolboy with results USE comes to high school, fills the
application etc. the schoolboy transmits the application, a copy of
certificate USE, a copy of the passport in a selection committee of high
school which manually or through the system builds the ranged list of
entrants.
The top lines of the list (depending on through passage mark and
quantity of places the border of the top lines is established) are placed on
a site of high school for the notification of candidates to transfer. If within
two weeks the schoolboy from the top lines brings original documents then
he is enlisted in students, if does not bring, he is deleted and second
"wave" of entrants for construction of the list of candidates for which
actions for the first wave repeat is considered, then the third wave and the
fourth is considered.
4.3. Program systems are used
The program system of the KROK AIS " Examination " firm
[http://www.croc.ru/branch/governmental_organizations/ege.php],
installed earlier on RIPC (in 2009 RIPC AIS " Examination " has been
removed on system of the ABBYY firm) has the benevolent interface
(more conveniently, than at program system of ABBYY)
According to Sergey Komkov , in 2006 USE on the basis of system
"Examination" of KROK was accepted in the Vologda, Ivanovo, Irkutsk,
Kaluga, Kostroma, Leningrad, Moscow, Pskov, Tambov, Tomsk,
Chelyabinsk areas, Karachaevo-Chircassia, Republic Saha (Yakutia),
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Khabarovsk territory, Khanty-Mansiysk and Chukchi autonomous regions,
and also in Moscow and St.-Petersburg.
Transition in 2009 on programs of ABBYY
[http://www.abbyy.ru/Default.aspx?DN=4c7119e3-1b2d-4b09-8bd1-
b005b906f083] (program complex ABBYY TestReader) has increased
expenditures of labour in some times. Company ABBYY modified program
complex ABBYY TestReader for processing results USE in FTC.
Company ABBYY informs on processing more than 13 million examination
forms.
4.4. Tests (CMM)
Set of tests (CMM)
[http://www.fipi.ru/view/sections/63/docs/129.html]
on forms on base subjects consists of three parts
[http://www.alleng.ru/edu/schexam.htm]. Regarding "A", the schoolboy
should choose one of variants of the answer, regarding «B» - to enter
missing word or figure, regarding «C» - to give the developed answer
(essay) to questions. After writing answers the filled forms of a category "A
" and "B" are scanned, verified, loaded by the schoolboy into base. The
essay on questions from a part "C" are manually estimated by
anonymously independent experts.
Forms USE are documents of the strict reporting, have a strokecodes.
Forms include - the form of registration and the form of answers. In
a database the full information, at an information phase, about the
schoolboy, and, nevertheless, is already loaded this information is entered
repeatedly from the form of registration.
The entrant, having received the certificate on results USE makes
copies, fills applications for receipt in high schools and can deliver a
package of documents with copies in different high schools
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[http://www1.ege.edu.ru/content/view/553/167/] or personally arrive to
selection committees.
The selection entrant committee chooses candidates for students
and notifies entrants. The opportunity to submit documents at once in
some high schools complicates work of selection entrant committees.
5. Opinion of president Dmitry Medvedev
President Dmitry Medvedev has told
[http://pressa.irk.ru/friday/2009/22/039001.html]: « you know, I in
difference, maybe, from a quantity of pessimists do not share the
negative relation to USE. »
« I consider that, despite of costs of a transition period, it is all more
civilized and more modern way to determine a level of knowledge, and,
by the way, a similar class tests exist all over the world ».
The president of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev supports
idea to create the presidential commission under the analysis of results
lead in it to year of uniform state examination (USE)
About work above USE, about its supporters and opponents ,
one of initiators of the project, ex-minister of education of Russia (1998-
2004), and now the rector of the Peoples’ Friendship University (PFUR)
Vladimir Filippov
[http://www.rian.ru/edu_analysis/20090717/177689398.html] has told:
« Work above USE was extremely interesting. We conducted it
together with very good team - the rector of the Higher school of
economy Jaroslav Ivanovich Kuzminov , directors of some the Moscow
schools, chiefs of managements of education of some regions, in
particular those five which the first in 2001 have entered experiment.. »
Evgenie Yasin, supervisor of studies HSE - " the Higher School of
Economy ", the ideologist of introduction of USE (United State
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Examination), has answered questions of RIA of News
[http://www.rian.ru/interview/20090327/166173864.html].
« If we want, USE (United State Examination) becomes the most
effective means from corruption after it passes the certain period of
approbation, enters into a life ».
For public discussion concerning overcoming problems USE the
Higher school of economy (HSE) is ready to give a platform.
Rectors of large Russian high schools have told about the first
conclusions of reception campaign of 2009
[http://www.regnum.ru/news/1199357.html] at press conference in
Moscow- The state university - the Higher school of economy Jaroslav
Kuzminov (HSE)
and
the St.-Petersburg state university Nikolay Kropachev, correspondent of
the IA REGNUM of News transfers
In opinion of Kuzminov, USE
has given many positive results. So, according to Kuzminov, it has been
striked solving blow on corruption at receipt in high schools. On its data,
in 2005 the size of bribes at receipt in high schools made nearby 10 billion
roubles. Now, rector HSE has told, this money have been redirected on
paid training of the same students.
6. Practice of USE
6.1. USE have overestimated in Financial academy at the
government of the Russian Federation
The Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian
Federation, Moscow, Russia
have lead own testing on the mathematics . The high estimations
received on USE, have confirmed only hardly more than 30 percent of
students of the first rate.
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According to the rector of academy Michael Eskindarov , " testing is
spent not to accept any administrative measures to students, and to
reveal, how much } their knowledge correspond to that is written in
certificates USE ".
- Almost all entrants who acted to us, had on USE an estimation
"five", the mean score on day time branch was very high - 85, - Michael
Eskindarov tells. - But excellent knowledge have shown only 34 percent
23 percent have received "three" and "two"....
Any high school, naturally, is not interested in that mass decrease
of students, and the aim of repeated testing - to understand, where
exactly a blank in knowledge. But claims of the rector - not to students,
and to USE. Exclusively federal bodies, instead of municipalities, should
spend USE . Quite probably, that, considering high competition, results
USE and own tests, the academy will spend in following year additional
introductory test.
It is necessary to enter norm on which the graduate can send copies
of documents no more than in five high schools
[], - the rector
of the Finance Academy considers . - the Similar practice is in many
European countries, including in the Great Britain. While in high schools
full uncertainty is kept. After the first wave the documents have brought
much less students, than universities expected. So, at us 60 percent of
vacant places are now (06 august 2009) filled only. We do not know,
whether the students recommended to transfer and if will come when will
come as a result. It is clear, that the majority will wait for the third wave.
6.2. The selection entrant committees.
Yesterday (on August, 6th 2009) in high schools there were
lists enlisted on the first rate. However, - not in all and, to put it mildly,
inexact: reception in high schools is not ended, the first act of a
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tragicomedy « Entrants -2009»
[http://www.moscow.in.kg/index.php?newsid=878] has simply ended.
Surnames in the lists which have been hung out yesterday,
inveterate funnymen have already nicknamed « Xerox souls ». It and
actually - the truth as transfer went to universities and institutes all over
again on copies of documents on education (the information about USE
here now main!) and as it is possible to build the "necessary" x-copy - to
explain it is not necessary.
And here to submit documents to a selection committee personally,
yesterday's schoolboys borrowed{occupied} under numbers turn since
evening and arranged muster in the mornings.
In the meantime in high school selection committees people fell in
faints, especially - in the main high schools of the country. To understand
with monstrous quantity of x-copies of entrants, for example, at many
faculties of the Moscow State University by M.V. Lomonosov it was
necessary and at night.
Significant achievement USE became reduction of corruption at a
level of high schools. However this positive results USE come to an end,
giving a up the place to results not indisputable and doubtful
[http://www.pnp.ru/newspaper/20090901/90.html].
By results of USE (United State Examination) on the first place there
was Yakutia, on the second - Chukotka, Moscow has taken only the
eleventh place. Similar not indisputable results of examination of
graduates of the Russian schools have appeared in the center of attention
of Minister of Education and a science of the Russian Federation, heads
of the All-Russia pedagogical assembly and deputies of the State Duma.
For rectors of creative high schools USE is a shock of bases
[http://ip.ntv.ru/news/2079/]. They have got used to shut eyes to poor
progress of young geniuses. For Andrey , balalaikaer from Kostroma,
of all this time was unimportant, what are marks on the mathematics , -
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the soul sings the main thing. And now it has appeared, that the talented
musician can not receive the certificate about secondary education.
Alexander Kurochkin, the student of the Kostroma musical school: «
tension with study, and I in a conservatory wish to act ».
7. The literature
1. A financial and economic substantiation to the project of the
federal law " About modification in the Law of the Russian Federation
" About education " and the Federal law " About the maximum and
after university vocational training " (regarding introduction of united state
examination), http://www.egesakha.ru/docs/Proekt/Finan.doc.
2. D.L.Komjagin.
Problems of financing of carrying out of united state examination,
http://www.lexed.ru/pravo/theory/ezegod/?07.html.
3. Evgenie Vasin, War with USE proceeds,
http://bio.fizteh.ru/student/diff_articles/ege_war.html.
The original of article is published on a site of the newspaper
"Arguments and the Facts ".
4.370 million dollars it is spent (on official data) from the federal
budget for carrying out USE. The newspaper "Trud" from 12/1/2008
5. A fluid point.
Magazine " Vlast" 32 (835) from 8/17/2009,
http://www.kommersant.ru/Doc.aspx?.