Education in Ukraine.

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 407.

In the Soviet Union.

Political influences.

Political leadership has affected the education systems of many countries in the 20^th century. In the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) under Communism and in Germany under the leadership of National Socialism, totalitarian systems of government imposed strict guidelines on the organization of national education systems. Many other countries during the 20^th century – including the United States – have sought to balance control of their education systems between the federal government and local governments or private organizations. Most countries in the 20^th century have also taken steps to increase access to education.

After the Russian Revolution in 1917 the Communist Party's Central Committee made the important educational decisions in the Soviet Union. In the 1920s Communist leader Joseph Stalin established a rigid curriculum for Soviet education that stressed science, mathematics, and Communist ideology. With the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 the former Soviet republics, such as Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia, became independent nations that controlled their own political and education systems.

Present day independent Ukraine has a well-developed system of education which matches the standards of the developed countries. Pre-school education is not compulsory and is fee-paying. Most parents take their children to nursery schools or kindergartens at the age of 3. Up to the age of 5 children mostly eat, sleep and play there, but in senior groups they are taught the basics of arithmetic, reading, writing, arts and in some schools foreign languages.

Compulsory secondary education begins at the age of 6-7 and is free in state schools and fee-paying in private ones. Some schools, especially those with language slant, have preparatory classes. Secondary education includes three stages: primary (1^st. - 3^d. grades), basic (4^th - 9^th grades) and senior (10^th - 11^th grades). Recently new types of schools have appeared: gymnasiums and lycees. In addition, there are schools with technical, computer, mathematical, law, pedagogical and art slant. All the subjects in the secondary schools are obligatory but there are optional courses that students of senior grades can take in addition to the required ones.

Extra-curricular activities usually include a variety of sports and drama clubs, interest groups and various school parties.

Those senior students who want to get qualification alongside the secondary education, can go to vocational training schools. Post-secondary education is provided by technical schools and colleges.

Institutions of higher learning (higher educational establishments) include universities, academies, institutes and conservatories.

Post graduate education begins after the last year of studies and usually results in theses on the chosen scientific topic and the degree of the Candidate of Science. Doctorate Degree is awarded for an outstanding scientific research.

Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, 2003.