Is it permitted to put up in a vacancy notice a minimum average of marks as condition for employment? A complainant posed this question to the Ombudswoman who noted that this condition is in line with the Anti-Discrimination Act, which allows such practice.

Namely, an average of marks allows an employer to choose best candidates for a certain job exclusively according to the achieved results and merit criteria, and not on personal characteristics which may be grounds for discrimination such as gender, age and similar.

Additionally, such election of candidates awards personal effort and excellence of a candidate whereby also sends an important message that hard work is worthwhile. That is why requesting an average of marks as condition for employment does not constitute discrimination on the ground of education.