MOSCOW, July 16, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning how Russians treat the fact that the entrance examinations to institutions of higher education will be substituted with the Unified State Examination; where they see the positive and negative features of the Unified State Examination.

The awareness of Russians regarding the Unified State Examination is approximately at the same level as it was last year: the share of the respondents who learned about it from the media still amounts to 55%, another 23% had a chance to experience the examination more closely - personally or via family members. Respondents having underage children or grandchildren demonstrated the highest degree of awareness in regard to this issue.

The important novelty to mention here consists in the fact that the Unified State Examination (EGE) has suffered a drastic decrease in popularity this year. In June of 2006 31% of the respondents would have preferred it if their children and grandchildren took their final examinations in the form of the Unified State Examination, whereas only 22% did in June 2007. Just as it was last year, the share of those supporting the usual form of final exams amounts to 45%. Additionally, the number of those who find it difficult to answer the question rose dramatically from 24% to 33%. Probably part of the former situational supporters of the EGE changed their point of view after getting new information about the procedure of the examination and the risks connected with it.

Another important fact is that respondents, who already have their own children or grandchildren, support the traditional form of the final examinations much more frequently: 50% of them adhere to this opinion. However, only 39% of those, who do not have any underage children in their family, speak in favor of the traditional form of the finals.

The public support of the EGE reached its climax in 2006, 43% of the respondents enthusiastically supported the new system at that time, whereas 29% treated the examination negatively. The public support of the EGE was reduced to 34% in 2007, however the share of people treating the new examination negatively remained the same (29%-30%), and the number of those who found it difficult to express their opinion grew from 15% to 21%.

The share of the respondents able to see some positive points in the Unified State Examination decreased during the last year. In 2006 23% expressed the opinion that the procedure of entering an institution of higher education is being simplified due to EGE; in 2007 only 18% think so. The number of those who among the merits of the new system mention that assessment of knowledge gained at school is being standardized in the whole country has also reduced (from 13% to 8%). The answer that due to EGE "gifted schoolchildren from the regions of Russia obtain the opportunity to enter an elite university" (23%) still occupies the first place. 19% of the respondents note that our system of education approaches international standards; 17% indicate the reduction in the corruption at the stage of entering institutions of higher education.

The main complains of respondents against the Unified State Examination consist in the fact that it decreases the possibilities to consider the individual features and qualities of schoolchildren; 25% of the respondents find it so (24% did in 2005, 28% in 2006); another 21% think that checking the knowledge of schoolchildren becomes formal, lies on the surface; 20% claim that corruption only flourishes due to the fact that the examinations are held at school. These fears of the respondents were also the most popular ones in 2005-2006.

The All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on June 16-17, 2007. 1599 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.