Croatian educators and institutions protest state exam essay changes

A growing movement of educators and cultural institutions in Croatia is protesting a proposal by the National Center for External Evaluation of Education (NCVVO) to introduce a choice of essay topics for the 2028 state graduation exam. Currently, students write an essay based on a prescribed literary work; the new proposal would allow students to choose between a literary essay and an essay on a general everyday topic.

Critics, including the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU), argue that this change will weaken the role of literature, the Croatian language, and national cultural heritage in the education system. They contend that the literary essay is essential for developing critical thinking, reading comprehension, and the ability to express complex ideas in one's mother tongue.

A petition titled “Appeal for the Book on the Graduation Exam,” launched by teachers Alma Majcenović and Marina Katinić Pleić, has gathered over 1,700 signatures. The initiative has gained support from the Department of Croatian Studies at the University of Zagreb, HAZU, Matica hrvatska, and the Society of Croatian Writers. Educators expressed concern that the shift could lead to a decline in reading habits and a diminished understanding of literary texts among students.