An audio recording featuring Tetyana Vakulenko, the head of the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment (UЦОЯО), has surfaced online, allegedly capturing her using inappropriate language towards a student attempting to register for the National Multi-Subject Test (НМТ). Vakulenko has claimed that the recording was deliberately manipulated to damage her reputation.
The incident reportedly involves a 16-year-old girl whose application for registration during a supplementary period was denied by the appeals commission. The student contended that she faced technical issues during the main registration session, prompting her to seek legal assistance.
According to Vakulenko, the girl failed to submit the required educational documentation and did not complete her application before the deadline. Following the expiration of the registration period, her personal account was deleted. Subsequently, a man identifying himself as the girl’s representative, Yegor B., contacted Vakulenko, allegedly applying pressure and issuing threats regarding her professional standing.
Vakulenko stated that the offensive language attributed to her related to conversations among the girl’s peers, which the legal representatives purportedly included as evidence in their case.
“This audio is grossly edited (which is evident), meaning it is not a coherent segment of my conversation with the participant, but rather a real conversation that has been cut in such a way as to destroy my professional reputation and cause personal harm, as well as negatively impact the reputation of UЦОЯО, which I lead,” she explained in her Facebook post.
She emphasized that she did not use any derogatory terms regarding the individual in question or any other applicants during any conversation.
Vakulenko also mentioned that after the girl’s registration was denied, she received calls from at least five individuals requesting assistance in resolving the matter. Among these was a member of parliament, whose name she did not disclose.
“They all claimed that the girl was the daughter of a missing serviceman. I must note that none of the documents submitted to UЦОЯО indicated that the girl’s father was a serviceman or that he was missing in action,” she stated.
In response to the situation, Vakulenko has sought legal counsel and intends to defend her honor and dignity in court. She has also reported the matter to the police, asserting that the audio fragment was intentionally fabricated.
The recording, which began circulating on June 10, features a female voice claiming that there were “zero technical problems” on the UЦОЯО website.
“Registered *banat […] Registration ended at 00:40. Her personal account was deleted,” the voice states.
Note: The audio contains explicit language.
At present, the identity of the 16-year-old student remains unknown, and neither she nor her representatives have publicly commented on the incident.
Response from the Ministry of Education and Parliamentary Committee
Nadiya Kuzmychova, Deputy Minister of Education, expressed her support for Vakulenko following her statements. She underscored that attempts to achieve desired outcomes through pressure, threats, manipulation, or connections cannot be justified.
“I know Tetyana as a professional, principled, and responsible leader for whom justice and equal rules are not merely declarations but a daily practice of work,” she stated in her Facebook post.
Kuzmychova also pointed out the dangers of exerting pressure on individuals and institutions that refuse to make exceptions, emphasizing the importance of appropriate responses from law enforcement in such cases.
Serhiy Babak, head of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science, and Innovation, also noted that he had received requests from certain high-ranking officials to assist in the positive resolution of the student’s registration for the НМТ.
“I explained that there are procedural matters, and if all prescribed procedures were followed and there were no violations on the part of UЦОЯО, then there are no grounds for reconsidering decisions,” he stated in a Telegram post.
Additionally, he affirmed his willingness to testify if Vakulenko pursues legal action to protect her honor and dignity, offering to provide any relevant correspondence and information regarding the incident.
The controversy involving Tetyana Vakulenko, head of UЦОЯО, centers on an alleged audio recording where she uses inappropriate language towards a student. Vakulenko claims the recording was manipulated to harm her reputation, while the Ministry of Education has expressed support for her amid the unfolding situation.