Verdict: FactCheck concludes that Sergo Ratiani’s statement is TRUE.

Resume:

In 2018, of the 47,669 applicants who took the unified education completion exams, 11,674 failed to surpass the minimum competence threshold (failed in at least one subject) which constitutes 24.5% of the total number of applicants. In 2017, nearly 27% of applicants failed in at least one subject whilst 40% of those who took the exam for the second time failed again (this constituted 18% of the total number of applicants). In accordance with 2016’s data, 25.3% of schoolchildren failed in at least one subject.

Since 2012, the results of the unified education completion exams have been getting worse almost every year – the number of applicants unable to surpass the minimum competence threshold has been on the rise. As compared to 2013, the situation has become better in 2014-2015 although that was a clearly temporary trend because exam results have continued to deteriorate from 2016 to today. More and more pupils have to take an exam again in at least one subject which is a clear indication of the existing flaws within Georgia’s education system.

Analysis MP from the European Georgia Movement for Freedom, Sergo Ratiani, spoke about the unified education completion exams and stated:

“For the past several years, nearly 25% of schoolchildren cannot get education completion diplomas.”

FactCheck

took interest in the accuracy of the statement.

In 2010, the Government of Georgia decided to launch the unified education completion exams at public schools. Georgia’s National Assessment and Examination Centre was tasked to prepare the content of the tests and ensure administrative and technical (software) provisions as well as to hold the exams. Schoolchildren take exams in some of the subjects by the end of the 11^th grade whilst they have to take the exams in the remaining subjects by the end of the 12^th

grade.

In accordance with the information of Georgia’s National Assessment and Examination Centre, 49,248 applicants registered for the 2018 education completion exams. Of this number, 47,669 applicants did take an exam with 11,674 having failed to surpass the minimum competence threshold. In terms of percentage, 24.5% of applicants failed in unified education completion exams.

Table 1:

 Results of 2018 Education Completion Exams

2018	Number of Registered Applicants	Number of Applicants who Took Exams	Passed the Exam	Failed the Exam	Failed the Exam %
Figures	49,248	47,619	35,995	11,674	24.5%

Source: Georgia’s National Assessment and Examination Centre

In regard to the previous years, 47,063

applicants from 48,434 registered applicants took an exam in 2017. Of this number, 12,803 applicants failed which constitutes nearly 27% of the total number of applicants. There were 13,941 applicants who took an exam again in at least one subject. Of this number, 5,562 applicants passed the second exam. Nearly 40% of applicants who retook an exam still failed which amounted to approximately 18% of the total number of applicants. In 2016, 25.3% of applicants failed to pass the minimum threshold. This figure was 14.8% in 2015.

Table 2:

Schoolchildren Registration, Examination and Failure Figures in 2011-2017

Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Registered Schoolchildren	46,490	41,483	41,947	38,140	44,482	47,084	48,434
Number of Schoolchildren who Took an Exam	41,482	40,545	37,945	37,189	43,525	45,688	47,063
Number of Schoolchildren who Failed an Exam	5,978	4,727	7,941	5,235	6,446	11,577	12,803
%	14.4%	11.7%	20.9%	14%	14.8%	25.3%	27%

Source: Georgia’s National Assessment and Examination Centre

Graph 1: Source: Georgia’s National Assessment and Examination Centre

As shown in the table and graph above, the education completion exam results have been getting worse in almost every year since 2012 – the number of applicants who failed to surpass the minimum competence threshold is on the rise. As compared to 2013, the situation improved in 2014-2015; however, this was clearly a temporary trend because pupil performance has been deteriorating again since 2016. More and more schoolchildren have to take a second exam in at least one subject which is a clear indication of the existing flaws within Georgia’s education system.