Many foreign migrants successfully pass the tests but do not speak Russian
If judging by Moscow, the only Russian-speaking migrants are janitors who have been working in the capital for more than a year. Lenta.ru spoke with Angela Dolzhikova, Vice Rector of RUDN University, about how difficult this exam is for foreigners and what problems arise around it. University specialists together with colleagues from Moscow State University developed the exam tasks.
– How difficult is the exam?
– There is no consensus. Some say the exam is difficult and needs to be simplified, while others, on the contrary, consider it so easy that it has become a farce. It must be admitted: these tests are indeed not very difficult. For example, choosing the Russian coat of arms or flag from two options in pictures. The same with important dates. There are only 10 questions. In my opinion, the level of difficulty is optimal. This does not mean the tasks do not need further improvement, but let’s not do that continuously. At the very least, the part intended for obtaining work permits can be left unchanged for a while and see how it all works.
– And for those obtaining a residence permit?
– We discussed proposals to differentiate tasks by difficulty depending on the purpose of arrival. Most experts agree that they can differ. For those obtaining work permits, requirements may be lower, unlike those obtaining a residence permit. Here the requirements should be stricter, as this person becomes virtually a citizen of the country. In principle, this issue is somehow resolved in practice now, but this norm has not been legally approved yet. We have already developed tests for this specific category in all subjects. We slightly expanded the list of dates and personalities, including modern history. In the part on legislation, changes and additions were also made, but more due to changes in legislation itself.
– How many points are needed to pass the test?
– Well, speaking of history and fundamentals of legislation, for example, you need to answer five questions out of ten correctly. The Russian language exam is different in that it has several separate tests: grammar, reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Each has several tasks. The maximum for the entire test is 300 points, with a passing score of 180. For foreigners planning to obtain a residence permit, the passing threshold could be set higher.
– How do migrants cope with these tasks?
– The pass rate is very high – from 85 to 93 percent depending on the region.
– An excellent result.
– That is so. But last year when we launched the tests, everyone told us they were very difficult. That we deliberately set barriers for law-abiding foreign citizens. We worked on them for six months, and we were constantly told that the tests were still difficult and needed to be simplified further. So we simplified them as much as possible, and now our pass rate is 90.
– I don’t even know if that’s good or bad…
– More likely good. Even if the requirements are low, during the preparation process these people still study and gain additional knowledge.
– So why are there so many migrants in Moscow who cannot string two words together in Russian? Illegal immigrants?
– This is a question for the regional tests, which, unlike the federal ones, are approved by local authorities. In Moscow, by the way, the result is the lowest – 85 percent, which speaks volumes about the low educational level of applicants. Moreover, in Moscow, the speaking test was removed from the comprehensive exam. Now they only check boxes. This is, of course, easier than the federal test, where the migrant also has to speak with the teacher, albeit at a minimal level. Now, apparently, all non-Russian-speaking migrants have gathered in Moscow.
Probably, the capital’s authorities do not believe that foreigners working in the city must speak Russian. A very strange position that we do not share at all. On the contrary, speaking skills are far more important for a migrant than knowledge of some historical dates and personalities. Most likely, this was done to reduce the cost of the exam procedure itself, leaving only computer-based checking of written tests.
– At a round table in the Public Chamber, it was even said that the regional exam is not integrated into the legal framework.
– In a sense, that is true. For the federal procedure, the regulatory framework is generally formed, and most foreigners, by the way, take testing exactly under it. The regional procedure is less clearly defined, and there are more grey areas. For example, the validity period of the test documentation is not defined. The scope of its application is not specified. There is no clarity on who maintains the database of these documents and how this information should be conveyed to the Federal Migration Service and the Ministry of Education and Science. Relevant amendments are currently being discussed in the relevant agencies.
– Some regions complain that the requirements for examiners are too high, and it is not easy to find such specialists.
– Indeed, questions are often asked why testing should be conducted by specialists in the subject of “Russian as a Foreign Language.” Why not entrust this work to ordinary Russian language teachers. We have discussed this in the professional community and concluded that exams in Russian taken by native speakers and foreigners differ greatly in both requirements and methodology. We do not insist that all examiners be teachers of Russian as a foreign language. But we believe that the participation of specialized specialists should not be abandoned. At least one such teacher should be on the commission.
– Were there cases where exams for foreigners were held in general education schools, which caused dissatisfaction among parents?
– This is, of course, wrong, and this problem worries us. We encountered such a practice, for example, in the Belgorod region. I understand that it is not always possible to find a suitable venue for the exam. But using schools for these purposes is unacceptable. Children should not be in the same room as adult foreign citizens.
– Does the migrant decide which procedure to take the exam?
– Yes, it is the choice of the foreign citizen. But there are nuances. First, the test for a residence permit exists only in the federal program. Second, the document of passing the federal test is entered into a unified information system and is valid for five years throughout the country. A migrant can freely move with it and find a job. For a regional document, these things have not yet been spelled out, and it is better not to travel to another region with it. But for those who came for seasonal work in a specific city or district, such a regional document is quite suitable. Every year, hundreds of migrants come to our southern regions for harvesting. Why do they need a federal document if they work in one place for six months and then go home?
– However, they spend these six months among people and must behave adequately. Are foreigners tested on knowledge of rules of conduct?
– The list of questions is gradually expanding, but the rules of conduct have not yet been included. Only what is prescribed in the legislation has been added: the ban on smoking, the ban on drinking alcohol in public places. Information on public holidays and classification of crimes was also added. The fact is that the legislation of our countries differs greatly, and what may be an administrative offense in their homeland is considered a criminal offense here. And vice versa.