More criticism of citizenship test after new mistake revealed
The Copenhagen Post, June 10, 2010
http://www.cphpost.dk/news/national/88-national/49195-more-
criticism-of-citizenship-test-after-new-mistake-revealed.html
Citizenship test takers who failed may be given a passing grade after one of its questions was found to offer no right answer
Following the discovery of another error in the national citizenship test, MPs have asked the Immigration Ministry to pass those who failed due to the erroneous question.
According to Politiken newspaper, at least 10 of the 3,314 people taking the test on Tuesday failed precisely because of question number 27.
The question, one of 40 that make up the test, cannot be correctly answered with any of the three choices given at least according to Jan-Erik Enestam, head of the Nordic Council.
The disputed question asks test-takers what the council does, and Enestam says the correct answer is that it advises and gives recommendations to the government. But according to the answer key, the correct response is that the council advises parliament.
The error is the latest in inaccuracy to come light since the tests inception in November 2008. In February, the Immigration Ministry allowed many immigrants to pass the test after a question asking when the term Denmark was first used to refer to the country.
As a result of the latest mistake, several MPs have now called for Birthe Rnn Hornbech, the immigration minister, to get the test sorted out once and for all.
The Danish Peoples Party, which has led the charge for tougher immigration laws, is one of the parties calling for those who failed Tuesdays test due to the erroneous question to be given a passing grade.
Id be inclined to be lenient with regard to the answer being marked wrong, MP Sren Krarup told Politiken. I mean, for Gods sake, give them their citizenship if theyve fulfilled all the other requirements.
Hornbech defended the test, arguing there was no doubt in her mind what the correct answer to the question was.
She added that the question was constructed well enough for the purpose and that she had no intention of discussing the issue with the media.
