Radovan Fuchs addresses petition against state matura essay changes

Radovan Fuchs, the Croatian Minister of Science, Education and Youth, has stated that a final decision has not yet been made regarding proposed changes to the state matura essay requirements. The proposal, put forward by the National Center for External Evaluation of Education (NCVVO), would allow students starting in the 2027/2028 school year to choose between an interpretive essay based on a literary work and an essay on a given topic.

The proposal has met significant resistance, with nearly 900 educators, university professors, academics, and cultural workers signing a petition titled ‘Appeal for a Book at the Matura’. Signatories argue that allowing students to opt for a general topic instead of a literary work could decrease reading motivation, weaken literary interpretation skills, and undermine educational outcomes related to literature.

Minister Fuchs noted that the NCVVO continuously monitors and analyzes the examination process to suggest improvements. He emphasized that the ministry will listen to arguments from both sides before reaching a conclusion, noting that such changes to examination formats have occurred in the past.