The Kosovo Assembly’s Education Committee has approved a new draft law on the State Matura Examination, signaling a radical shift in how high school graduation tests are administered. The reform introduces significantly higher academic standards and severe financial penalties for malpractice, aiming to restore integrity to a process long plagued by reports of mass cheating.
Cracking Down on Irregularities
The Ministry of Education, led by Minister Hajrullah Çeku, proposed the changes to address systemic flaws in the examination’s administration. A key focus of the bill is physical and digital oversight to prevent illegal cooperation between students and administrators.
“We have proposed changes in administration to ensure that testing spaces are suitable for preventing illegal actions, minimizing the interference and opportunities for cheating,” Minister Çeku stated during the committee hearing.
Severe Financial Sanctions
One of the most controversial and discussed aspects of the new law is the dramatic increase in fines. The reform targets not just students, but also the staff responsible for overseeing the tests.
- Penalties: Fines for failing to report irregularities or actively participating in malpractice now range from €1,000 to €20,000.
- Accountability: The law targets administrators, teachers, and coordinators who “turn a blind eye” to cheating, a practice that monitors say has become systemic in some regions.
Expert Insight: “The Culture of Tolerance”
Civil society organizations have welcomed the move but warn that fines alone are not enough. Agon Ahmeti from the NGO “Etea” pointed out that cheating has often been encouraged by parents and teachers under the guise of “helping” the students.
“According to Etea’s evidence, all parties—including teachers, parents, and student organizations—have been involved in encouraging cheating in the classrooms. This creates immense inequality, as responsible administrators in some rooms prevent cheating while others tolerate it,” Ahmeti noted.
Inclusivity and Non-Majority Languages
The draft law also addresses the linguistic barriers faced by non-majority communities. Lawmakers emphasized the need for high-quality, accurate translations of the tests into community languages to ensure that Serbian, Turkish, Bosnian, and Roma students are not disadvantaged during the examination process.
Next Steps
With the committee’s approval, the bill now moves to the floor of the Assembly for a final vote. If passed, the new regulations are expected to be implemented for the 2026 Matura season, representing a major test for the Ministry’s ability to enforce the new, stricter code of conduct.
