Education in Ukraine
This article needs to be updated.(March 2022) |
Agency overview | |
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Formed | 8 July 1992 |
Preceding agency |
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Jurisdiction | Ukraine |
Headquarters | 10, Victory Sq., Kyiv |
Minister responsible |
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Child agencies |
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Website | Official website |
Starting in September 2018, 12-year secondary education will replace 11-year which was mandatory before that.[2] As a rule, schooling begins at the age of 6, unless your birthday is on or after 1 September.[3] In 2016/17, the number of students in primary and secondary school reached 3,846,000, in vocational school 285,800, and in higher education 1,586,700 students. According to 2017 EduConf speech of the (then) Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Liliya Hrynevych, the amount of budget financing for the sphere of education would reach about ₴53 billion in 2017 (compared to 42 in 2016).[2]
The
Ukrainian educational system
The Ukrainian educational system is organized into five levels: preschool, primary, secondary, upper secondary and postgraduate education.
In 2010 a total of 56% of children aged one to six years old had the opportunity to attend
Schools receive 50% of their funding from the
School level
Grade | Age | School level | Accreditation |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 6/7 | primary | I level |
2 | 7/8 | ||
3 | 8/9 | ||
4 | 9/10 | ||
5 | 10/11 | secondary, base | II level |
6 | 11/12 | ||
7 | 12/13 | ||
8 | 13/14 | ||
9 | 14/15 | ||
10 | 15/16 | secondary, last | III level |
11 | 16/17 | ||
12 | 17/18 |
Currently in Ukraine, school attendance is designated for children and teenagers from age 6 to 17. Ukraine has several types of general education institutions. Some schools may be boarding schools and named school-internat or lyceum-internat.
- Middle School of General Education (ZOSh) or Middle School
- Lyceum (Technikum in the Soviet times)
- Grammar school
The institution is called Middle School of General Education (ZOSh) or simply Middle School, and usually combines primary and secondary levels of education. The system was first introduced in 1958 and included a 12-grade system, while in 1965 it was a 10-grade system. Most middle schools have all three levels of accreditation for General Education. Some remote schools have only two levels, which is the minimum requirement for all middle schools.
Primary and secondary education is divided into three levels of accreditation of general education: I - "younger", II - "middle", and III - "senior". Level 1 comprises grades 1 to 4. Grades 5-9 are usually considered a II level of accreditation or a base secondary education, while 10-12 are a III level. Despite the names, students usually study in the same school throughout their primary and secondary education. Elementary schooling lasts for 4 years, middle school for 5 and high school for 3.
The objective of general schooling is to give younger students knowledge of the arts and sciences, and teach them how to use it practically.
During grades 9 and 12, which is usually around the age of 15 and 17, students take various exams. The current examination system is undergoing change. In grades 9 and 12 students take Independent Government Tests (IGTs), which allows eleventh graders to enter university without taking separate entrance exams. In 2008, entrance exams were abolished and the IGTs became the standard for determining entrance eligibility.[10] However, the system was changed again in 2010.
In
Since 2018, pre-higher education now lasts for 12 years. This means all students who entered grade 1 in 2018 will graduate after completing grade 12; however this does not apply to students who have completed grade 1 prior to 2018.[12]
Home schooling
Educating children at home is legal in Ukraine and expressly allowed for in Articles 59 and 60 of Ukraine's Education Law.[13]
International Schools
- Meridian International School, Kyiv (est. 2001)
- Kyiv International School (est. 1992)
- French Lycee Anne of Kyiv (est. 1994)
- British International School, Ukraine (est.1997 Nivki, 2011 Pechersk)
- Pechersk School International
- Klovsky Lyceum № 77[14] (est. 1979)
University level (Post-secondary education)
Higher education is either state funded or private. Students who study at state expense receive a standard scholarship if their average marks at the end-of-term exams and differentiated test is at least 4 (see the 5-point grade system below); this rule may be different in some universities. In the case of all grades being the highest (5), the scholarship is increased by 25%. For most students the level of government subsidy is not sufficient to cover their basic living expenses. Most universities provide subsidized housing for out-of-city students. Also, it is common for libraries to supply required books for all registered students.
There are two degrees conferred by Ukrainian universities: the bachelor's degree (4 years) and the master's degree (5–6th year). These degrees are introduced in accordance with
Postgraduate level
Upon obtaining a master's degree or Specialist, a student may enter a university or a scientific institute to pursue postgraduate education. The first level of postgraduate education is aspirantura that usually results in the Kandydat Nauk degree (
After graduation a student may continue postgraduate education. This takes from two to four years of study in doctorantura. Significant scientific results must be obtained and published, and a new thesis written. This produces a
Marks
Ukraine has a 99.4 literacy rate. Ukrainian universities use a traditional 5-point scale:
- "5" = "excellent"
- "4" = "good"
- "3" = "satisfactory"
- "2" = "unsatisfactory".
"5", "4", "3" can be described as "Passed", "2" - as "Fail".
Students who get a failing grade of "2", have two more chances to pass an examination.
Since 2006 (and even earlier in some universities), university students are graded on a rating scale of 0 to 100. These grades can be transformed to the 5-point scale approximately as follows (this system may vary a little from university to university and may change from time to time):
- from 90 to 100 means "5" —– A
- from 74 to 89 means "4" —— B, C
- from 60 to 73 means "3" —— D, E
- from 0 to 59 means "2" —— F
Both the rating scale and the 5-point scale are used in university registers. Some lecturers prefer to use A-F-point scale to rate students during their passing the exams.
As for secondary schools, they also used the above-mentioned 5-point scale till 2000. Since 2000 secondary schools use a 12-point scale, which could be transformed into the traditional 5-point scale as follows:[citation needed]
- "12" = "5+"
- "11" = "5"
- "10" = "5-"
- "9" = "4+"
- "8" = "4"
- "7" = "4-"
- "6" = "3+"
- "5" = "3"
- "4" = "3-"
- "3" = "2+"
- "2" = "2"
- "1" = "2-"
- "0" = "2--"
Here signs "+" and "-" denote respectively better and worse version of a mark, for example, "4-" means "somewhat worse than good". Mark "0" is very rarely given in Ukrainian schools (when student refuses to answer for question or doing any exam or task). This mark can be compared to "2--" (in Russia) and/or "F--" in the USA.
Languages used in Educational Establishments
On 25 September 2017 a new law; the
The law was condemned by
In January 2020, the 2017 education language law was changed and made it legal to teach "one or more disciplines" in "two or more languages – in the official state language, in English, in another official languages of the European Union".[28] All not state funded schools were made free to choose their own language of instruction.[28] According to the 2020 law until the fifth year of education all lessons can be completely taught in the minority language without mandatory teaching of subjects in Ukrainian.[28] In the fifth year not less than 20% of the lessons must be taught in Ukrainian.[28] Then every year the volume of teaching in the state language (Ukrainian) should increase, reaching 40% in the ninth grade.[28] In the twelfth and final year at least 60% of education should be taught in Ukrainian.[28]
Since the language of instruction in Ukrainian schools is the state language, which is Ukrainian (national minorities are guaranteed the right to study in public educational facilities including their language alongside Ukrainian).[29]
In 2000/2001 academic year, 70% of students attended Ukrainian-language schools (that is where Ukrainian is the primary language of instruction), while 29% were studying in Russian-language schools. There are schools with instruction in Romanian, Crimean Tatar, Hungarian, and Polish in regions populated by those groups. Historically, the language of instruction has often changed in Ukraine. When Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire, the Ukrainian language was proscribed, and Russian predominated among the elite, who had access to schools. The initial policies of the Bolsheviks were supportive of local languages, and many Ukrainian-language schools were opened, with the long-term goal of getting rid of illiteracy. From the mid-1930s to the mid-1980s, the Soviet government policies favoured Russification. In the 1970s and 1980s, the number of Russian-language schools constantly increased at the expense of Ukrainian-language schools. After Ukraine obtained independence the trend was reversed. However, reintroduction of formal Ukrainian-language study has taken longer than expected. In some schools that have tried to switch to Ukrainian, part or most of the instruction is still given in Russian. In universities there are similar trends. In 1991/92 academic year, according to the Razumkov Centre, 49% of high school students were receiving their education in Ukrainian, and 50% in Russian.
Education of international students
Ukraine is a popular destination for education among Asian and African students. There are more than 63,000 students from 130 countries of the world now.[30] A lot of non-government companies try to help students from all over the world apply to one of the universities in Ukraine. An example of this is the Ukrainian Educational Agency.[31]
During the 2022 Russian invasion
The education of about 5.5 million children was affected by the war with about 22 schools being attacked daily, per the Save the Children organization and official Ukrainian figures. A survey by the Ukrainian government estimated in June 2022 that 5.7 million school aged children aged between 3 and 18-years-old had been affected by the war and of those 2.8 million were displaced.[32] In early April 2022, it was reported that at least 869 education facilities or about 6% of schools in Ukraine had been damaged, with about 83 completely destroyed and other classroom being used as emergency accommodation. Additionally there was a lack of teachers, which had been a concern prior to the invasion, but majorly teachers were female and became refugees elsewhere with their children.[33]
The Ukrainian government paused all education for a few days when the war first broke out, before returning to online learning that had been the precedent from the COVID-19 pandemic, with some schools re-opening in person teaching by May 2022 in less affected areas.[34] For the start of the 2022–2023 academic year many Ukrainian schools attempted to re-open for the school year, however many are heavily damaged from the war and lack safe locations for pupils and educators if the buildings come under attack.[32] Per government regulations a schools shelter should be preferably be large enough to allow for the continuation of lessons, but if they cannot hold all enrolled pupils then the schools should offer part-time onsite and online learning for all enrolled students.[34] About 51% of the schools in Ukraine planned to return to in-person education with online study if the parents preferred it, with any school without quick access to shelters or located close to borders with Russia or Belarus staying virtual.[35]
In January 2023, the UNICEF said education for more than 5 million children was disrupted by the war in Ukraine. The use of explosive weapons in the conflict destructed thousands of schools and other educational buildings throughout Ukraine, especially those located in densely populated areas. The UNICEF urged for more support to ensure access to offline learning resources and supplies for children.[36]
Criticism
According to British economist Frances Cairncross (in April 2010), "Ukrainian education is too inward-looking, too corrupt and too poor to do a good job".[37] According to Swedish economist Anders Åslund (in October 2012) the best parts of the Ukrainian education system are basic education in mathematics and science;
Ukrainian professor O. Bazaluk reports that the Ukrainian education provides for a student nothing more than an illusion of training. As a result, the majority of the Ukrainian graduates do not possess even a basic level of professional knowledge when they leave their schools. Due to extremely ineffective educational policy of the Ukrainian government and ubiquitous corruption the everyday life of the society has been significantly changed. The new developed qualities of the social transformation include aggression, rudeness, intolerance, boastfulness, reticence etc.[38]
In 2013, the education system received the third highest percentage among Ukrainians of having given a bribe too with 33%.[39]
See also
- List of universities in Ukraine
- National Accreditation Agency of Ukraine
- Open access in Ukraine to scholarly communication
- National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine
References
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2008) |
- Ukrayinska Pravda(in Ukrainian). 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Beyond the scandal: what is Ukraine's new education law really about? | openDemocracy".
- ^ Bassis/Dhilawala. (2009). Cultures of the World:Ukraine p.72
- ^ "Ukraine - HRMI Rights Tracker". rightstracker.org. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
- ^ Education Ministry: Some 44 percent of children unable to attend kindergarten, Kyiv Post (11 August 2010)
- ^ Tymoshenko promises to commission all unfinished schools in 2010, Interfax-Ukraine (5 October 2009)
- ^ Ukrainian schools to manage budgetary financing independently starting from 1 January, says Tymoshenko, Interfax-Ukraine (1 October 2009)
- ^ Bassis/Dhilawala (2009). Cultures of the World: Ukraine
- ^ Kummer, Patricia K. (2001) Ukraine Enchantment of the World
- ^ Про затвердження Порядку проведення зовнішнього незалежного оцінювання...| від 24.01.2008 (in Ukrainian)
- ^ School leavers to have external independent testing after state final examination, Kyiv Post (8 October 2009) [dead link]
- ^ https://mon.gov.ua/storage/app/media/zagalna%20serednya/Book-ENG.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ Home School Legal Defense Association: Ukraine Archived 2016-04-14 at the Wayback Machine, Home School Legal Defense Association
- ^ "Кловський Ліцей". klovsky77.com.ua.
- ^ Great Soviet Encyclopedia (in Russian) (3rd ed.). Moscow: Sovetskaya Enciklopediya. Vol. 11.
- ^ a b "Ukrainian President Signs Controversial Language Bill Into Law". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
- ^ Tulup, Margarita (2017-12-08). "Beyond the scandal: what is Ukraine's new education law really about?". openDemocracy. Liz Barnes, translator. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
- ^ "New education law becomes effective in Ukraine". www.unian.info. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ a b Про освіту | від 05.09.2017 № 2145-VIII (Сторінка 1 з 7)
- ^ "Ukraine agrees to concessions to Hungary in language row". www.unian.info. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ a b "PACE - Resolution 2189 (2017) - The new Ukrainian law on education: a major impediment to the teaching of national minorities' mother tongues". assembly.coe.int. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Ukrainian Language Bill Facing Barrage Of Criticism From Minorities, Foreign Capitals". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Consolidated version of Regulation No 1 determining the languages to be used by the European Economic Community" (PDF). Europa. European Union. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
- ^ "Languages of Europe – Official EU languages". European Commission. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "Hungary in language dispute with Ukraine over schools". BBC News. 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- UNIAN(27 June 2018)
- UNIAN(12 January 2018)
- ^ a b c d e f "Reconciliation schools: do the new language norms rule Ukraine's conflict with Hungary" (in Ukrainian). European Pravda. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ Beyond the scandal: what is Ukraine's new education law really about?
Debate on language provisions of Ukraine's education law not over – minister
Ukraine agrees to concessions to Hungary in language row - ^ "Украина зарабатывает на иностранных студентах $500 млн в год". segodnya.ua. July 11, 2022.
- ^ Ukrainian Educational Agency
- ^ a b John, Tara; Kostenko, Maria (August 23, 2022). "Bomb shelters, knowledge gaps and the need for community. Six months into the war, Ukrainian schools are reflecting the new reality". CNN. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ^ Dasey, Jason (2022-04-05). "Russia attacking more than 20 schools a day in Ukraine, Save the Children says". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ^ ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ^ ARHIROVA, HANNA; FISCH, YESICA (September 1, 2022). "It's back to school in Ukraine — but far from normal". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ^ "Ukraine war disrupts education for more than five million children: UNICEF". UN news. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ Education problems deeper than language, Kyiv Post (2 April 2010)
- ISBN 9781443896894.
- ^ Transparency International Global Corruption Barometer: Ukraine has become more corrupt over the last two years, The Ukrainian Week (9 July 2013)
Further reading
- S. Kvit, The Battlefront of Civilizations: Education in Ukraine – Kyiv : Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Publishing House, 2015. – ISBN 978-966-518-685-4.
External links
- Website of the Ukrainian Ministry
- Study guide in Ukraine Archived 2021-08-29 at the Wayback Machine
- Article about Education in Ukraine from Ukrainian Encyclopedia Archived 2020-08-03 at the Wayback Machine