The Verkhovna Rada on Sept. 5 passed the second and final reading of education reform legislation.
The reform aims to bring Ukrainian education closer to European standards.
As a result of the revamping effort, schools will be able to form their own curricula, develop syllabi for school subjects in accordance with secondary education standards, and select textbooks and teaching methods. The bill will also enable school students to choose between academic or profession-oriented subjects.
The legislation includes introducing a 12-year school system to replace Ukraine’s current 11-year school program.
The reform also envisages increasing teachers’ salaries and expanding the role of the Ukrainian language in education, as opposed to Russian.
Under the bill, the now illegal but ubiquitous financial contributions of parents to schools will become legal and will be officially accounted for.
Finland is expected to partially finance and help carry out the reform.
