The State Duma proposed reducing the passing grade in agricultural universities

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Agrarian Issues Yulia Ogloblina calls for a lowering of the passing grade in all agricultural universities in the country. We are talking about agricultural universities and specialties in the field of agronomy, soil science, and biotechnology. The deputy sent a letter to the head of the Ministry of Education and Science with a request to lower the entrance score in mathematics, Russian language and chemistry at the “soil” universities subordinate to the ministry.

There are agricultural universities subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture, but they are in the minority compared to the “ministerial” ones. The deputy claims that the score is lower at departmental universities. “We have the Agrarian Institute of the Mordovian State University named after Ogarev, it is subordinate to the Ministry of Education and Science, that is, the passing score there is higher than in universities of the Ministry of Agriculture,” says Ogloblina.

And he gives the figures necessary for admission to a regular agricultural university. An applicant will be able to enter there with at least 39 points on the Unified State Exam in mathematics, physics or chemistry, and at least 40 points in the Russian language.

By the way, this is not much at all, a solid “three”. The exam does not become easier from year to year, and the criteria for assessing assignments are rather becoming more stringent. Every year, a table for converting Unified State Exam points into grades is published (except for basic mathematics, it is already calculated using a five-point system). So, in the Russian language, a result of 0-35 is a two, and for a “three” you need to score 35-56 points. And the same thing for chemistry and specialized mathematics. It turns out that the criteria in “ordinary” agricultural universities are not so high, rather the opposite…

There is, of course, a difference in the level of training of graduates from rural schools and schools in big cities – this is also discussed in the State Duma. “The teachers themselves say that many students open up during the learning process, and even former school C-grade students grow into highly qualified specialists,” says Ogloblina. Therefore, her idea to lower the passing grade for farmers is intended to “level the chances” of rural graduates, who most need such specialties, with everyone else. Also, a member of the State Duma Agrarian Committee calls for additional points to be awarded to the Unified State Examination for graduates of agricultural classes when entering agricultural specialties.

It is unclear whether there will be a list of specialties with a reduced score for admission or whether this will apply to the entire university. After all, the university offers many areas of study. For example, Kuban Agrarian: in addition to the “land” and livestock departments, the faculty of mechanization, there is a legal, management, financial-economic and energy department. There is applied mathematics, and the “Institute of Digital Economy and Innovation.” Will they also be accepted there with a D in math? In the same Mordovia there is its own Moscow State University – Mordovian State University (Agrarian University). And there, too, there are different educational areas and specialties, for example, landscape architecture.

Biotechnology, which the deputy also mentions, is one of the most popular specialties among “natural scientists”. The competition in this area for leading universities like Moscow State University and Sechenovka is enormous, the “threshold” reaches 350 and almost 400 points. This means that four Unified State Exams are needed, and each to the maximum. You can enter strong Moscow and good regional biotechnology universities with 250 points. In fact, these are also fives and one solid four.

But it’s not about the points themselves. If “in the interests of the economy” in some universities they reduce competitive scores below the plinth level, then this, firstly, will contradict the law on education, which is the same for all. And secondly, applicants from other places will flock there for “free” admission. And the effect will be achieved exactly the opposite of what was intended.

“If we talk about the interests of the economy, then engineering specialties are popular,” says education and Unified State Exam expert Maria Bushueva. — The budget is being increased for technical engineering, design and energy specialties, in medical, pedagogical and agricultural universities. If the latter somehow make it easier to enter, then, as they say, “everyone will get out.” Especially techies. Who have been talking for more than one year about the need to simplify the essay for admission to the Unified State Exam. And divide the Russian language into “base” and “profile”, as they did with mathematics. This will be the most logical requirement if concessions are made to farmers.

– What to do if training in rural areas is really different? And this is a long-standing problem.

– And a solution was found for her just as long ago. There is no need to reinvent the wheel – back in the USSR there were targeted programs for graduates from villages and rural areas. Adjusted for modern times, this could be a special quota for agricultural specialties, as they do in the European Union to support agricultural sectors, such as winemaking and livestock breeding. Or a system of grants and financial support programs for rural residents who go to agricultural colleges and universities (USA, Canada). And there is no need for any reduction in points for everyone, there is a local solution.