Participation in the All-Ukrainian August Conference “The New Ukrainian School: Challenges and Perspectives of the Education Reform” (Kyiv, August 19, 2019)

The traditional annual educational forum – All-Ukrainian August Conference “The New Ukrainian School: Challenges and Perspectives of the Education Reform” was held at the National Sports Complex “Olimpiyskiy” on August 19, 2019. Representatives of the State Scientific Institution “Institute of Educational Analytics” (hereinafter – SSI “IEA”), namely, Sergiy Londar – Director of the SSI “IEA”, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor, Oksana Denysiuk – First Deputy Director, Andrii Lytvynchuk – Deputy Director for Scientific and Organizational Work, Ph.D. in Economics, Yuliia Irynevych – scientific researcher of the Department of technologies for the processing of statistical information, Ph.D. in Economics. took part in the educational forum.

In the first part of the conference “Vision of the Ukrainian Education Reform, Future Challenges” Volodymyr Groysman, Prime Minister of Ukraine welcomed the participants of the conference. Educators of Ukraine heard the speech made by the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Liliia Hrynevych, as well as speeches of Hugues Mingarelli – Head of the European Union Delegation to Ukraine, Satu Kahkonen – World Bank Country Director for Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova, Olha Tymoshenko – School Principal at School № 309 in Kyiv piloting New Ukrainian School (hereinafter – NUS), Yaroslav Prytula – Dean of Applied Sciences Faculty of the Ukrainian Catholic University.

Opening the conference, Volodymyr Groysman congratulated all the participants of the event and focused on the main achievements of the implementation of educational reform in Ukraine. In her speech, Liliia Hrynevych emphasized that Ukraine should strive for the whole education system to be able to provide people with knowledge that would help them to cope with difficult challenges in the future. It requires essentially new skills, creation of opportunities for the development of our citizens and creation of highly-educated society. The Minister also pointed out the necessity to integrate all Ukrainian education components into one system for lifelong learning.

After general discussion concerning future reforming of Ukrainian education, the conference continued in the format of a common panel and separate sections:

  • NUS: Results of the first year, and preparation for the next 2019/2020 academic year;
  • Professional education. Reloading;
  • Piloting of the NUS 3rd grade;
  • School and community;
  • The draft standard for basic secondary education NUS;
  • Concept for development of pedagogic education;
  • Inclusion;
  • Autonomy of vocational education and training (VET) institutions: yesterday, today, tomorrow;
  • Educational statistics and funding;
  • Pedagogy of partnership.

Within the framework of the panel “NUS: Results of the first year, and preparation for the next 2019/2020 academic year”, Liliia Hrynevych in her presentation, in particular, showed the main results of the nationwide research, which was carried out by the SSI “IEA”. The results outline the process of NUS Concept implementation in the general secondary education institutions. The survey respondents were teachers who taught in the 1st grade in 2018/2019 academic year and parents of students who attended 1st grade in 2018/2019 academic year. Thus, questionnaire survey received responses from 11 thousand 230 participants (parents of first-graders – about 10 thousand people, teachers of first-graders – 1 thousand 230 people), the proportion of the population living in countryside totaled 47,3%.

Sergiy Londar, Director of the SSI “IEA” engaged intensively in the discussion on school network optimization within the framework of the section “Educational statistics and funding”, which was moderated by Pavlo Khobzey, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Andrii Lytvynchuk, Deputy Director of the SSI “IEA” delivered a report on the topic: “Strengthening Evidence-Based Policymaking with Education Statistics and Analytics” in the framework of implementing the project of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (TFSCB III: TF070561). The importance of rapid prompt entering of reliable data”in which he demonstrated the achievements of the project’s main goals. The key result of the project is the development of a modern education management information system, which will provide the collection of reliable, up-to-date educational statistics on the condition of general and preschool educational institutions according to the approved system of indicators at both a regional and a national level. Since the end of the grant agreement in July 2019, an Automated Information Complex of Educational Management (hereinafter –  AIСOM) was developed.  Operational efficiency, expanded opportunities of collecting and analyzing educational statistical and administrative information by means of AICOM allow improving the quality of planning and management in the field of education and upgrade the educational policy made by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

In the framework of the August Conference, organizers prepared the exhibition of modern school equipment and educational materials. In particular, the exhibition presented electronic textbooks and new approaches to the provision of school meals.

During the final session, an awards ceremony for the participants of the educational forum took place, after which a traditional photo was taken as a keepsake.

 

Useful resources:

Information and analytical digest “Educational reform: results and prospects” (2019)

Presentation materials available on the official website of the MES

Video of the press conference (Facebook page of the MES)

Materials of last year’s August Conference (2018) 

Photo from Press Service of the MES