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Kyiv (Interfax-Ukraine) – Presidential Secretariat Deputy Head Yuriy Bohutsky has said the presidential initiative to hold full independent testing of school leavers, implemented in 2008, had shown its effectiveness.

"This was admitted by experts, teachers and even politicians," he said.

"The first tests were in general successfully held, their aim – to provide an objective and fair estimation of the school leavers' knowledge was achieved. The main thing: the secrecy of test, was preserved, and equal conditions for entering university were guaranteed. I'm sure that together we struck a painful blow on corruption, and not the last one. The president demands the full and absolute liquidation of all corrupt aspects of the educational system."

The old system is putting up desperate resistance, according to Bohutsky. Attempts to disrupt the testing are continuing, using court decisions as an instrument, he said.