1. www.debaty.org
UKRAINIAN HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION IS HOPELESSLY OUTMODED
PUBLIC DEBATE BRIEF
November the 29th, 2012
Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine
This public debate was the first regional debate, organized by the Foundation for Effective Governance. The debate was
held in Lviv with the support of Lviv City Council. Andrey Danilevich, a well-known journalist and TV presenter,
moderated the debate.
Today there is a popular belief that the Ukrainian education system is one of the top-rank systems in Europe. On the
other hand statistics of the authoritative international organizations go to prove the contrary. In particular in the World
Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report for 2012 Ukraine is ranked the 70th out of 144 countries in quality of
education, including secondary one, having lost 30 positions during the last 4 years. Is it true that the Ukrainian
secondary education is outdated? Or quite the opposite is it a profound base for human capital development?
The supporters of the debate’s topic were saying that the quality of the Ukrainian education does not meet the
requirements of modern society. It raises generation of industrial age whereas today there is a need in people, who are
able to process information, think independently and make decisions. School should develop personality, gifts of each
particular pupil; such a result can be achieved via providing schools with autonomy and using modern technologies. The
opponents were speaking about huge potential of the Ukrainian secondary education: it provides considerable scope of
knowledge and there are experienced teachers working within this sector. In accordance with the results of the TIMSS
international assessment Ukraine ranks the average in quality of education, the Ukrainian pupils show high performance
and almost all of them have basic knowledge in mathematics and natural sciences, and this goes to prove that the
Ukrainian education is headed in the right direction.
The voting results before and after the debates showed that the number of the supporters of the panel FOR the motion
had stayed the same and the panel AGAINST the motion had managed to gain over extra 6 per cent of the audience.
The public debates serve as a social forum for discussion of issues essential for Ukraine’s economic development. The
project is designed to foster a culture of constructive and substantiated debate, and to assist in forming public awareness
on the key economic challenges facing our country.
Speakers FOR the motion Speakers AGAINST the motion
Ina Mullis
Dmytro Shymkiv
Executive Director of the TIMSS &
General Director of
PIRLS International Study Center at
Microsoft Ukraine
Boston College
Aleksey Grekov Oleg Berezyuk
Co-founder and strategic Director of Humanitarian Policy
development director of the Department of Lviv City Council
"Athens" private school

2. Key statements
Dmytro Shymkiv: “The fact, that the Ukrainian education receives Ina Mullis: “The TIMSS 2012 International Results indicate that the
particular international recognition, is outright thanks to parents Ukrainian education system is headed in the right direction and ranks
and particular teachers, who manage to work out interesting the average in international comparison. Many Ukrainian pupils
training programs despite the existence of the “stamp” (everything, demonstrated good-to-great performance results. According to TIMSS
what is written, is to be certified by the Ministry of Education). The 2011 the majority of the learners received average and high scores in
existing education raises generation of industrial age, whereas mathematics and natural sciences. Training programs are well-
business community and society lack people of information sphere, balanced, teachers are experienced with working experience of 20 and
able to think and express their viewpoint. Moreover we keep using more years, pupils are interested in classes and are involved in class
paper sources when teaching children instead of creating interactive activities”.
manuals”.
Aleksey Grekov: “Our school was established in the 19th century to Oleg Berezyuk: “We possess historical traditional respect for
fulfill the tasks which differ from those to be set today. At that time education, cultivated by family and society; this is the most essential
there was a need in people who were good in counting and writing. value. The second point to be mentioned is that the Ukrainian
Today we require various schools, that will help to unlock different education is of accumulation mode. Our children learn a lot by heart,
talents of pupils, we need tutor technologies to ensure that each but when they come to the West, they stand first in their classes as
child is raised by an outstanding teacher”. they learn fast simple manipulation methodologies and they have
enough background to be put in practice. And an individual approach
in education constitutes the third value”.
Comments and Q&A Session
Comment: Dmytro Shymkiv: “Together with Russia we are two countries, which still teach Pascal in schools, though Pascal programming is no
longer used”.
Q: “Name three success factors for the secondary education system”.
A: Dmytro Shymkiv: “For me in particular and for entrepreneurships these are autonomy of schools, independence for teachers and high
technologies”.
A: Ina Mullis: “Well prepared teachers, excellent resources and learners, who really care”.
A: Oleg Berezyuk: “Staff, staff and staff once again”.
A: Aleksey Grekov: “Autonomy of schools, “money follows the child” approach and staff”.
Q: “In your opinion, does school teach pupils to trust each other, be honest, respect private property, does it teach to be responsible – all that
things, which are essential for the 21st century?”
A: Aleksey Grekov: “It’s possible to reach such a result in case there exist two principals: honesty and mercy. This is what can be called goodness
DNA. One cannot teach that, this must run through every thing at school, this message must be delivered by every teacher”.
Q: “In your opinion what model – the American or the Finnish – would be the one for us to approach to in our efforts to reform education?”
A: Dmytro Shymkiv: “If we talk about educational system of higher institutions, I would prefer the model they have in the USA; if we take the
secondary education, I lean towards the European model, which devotes more attention to forming practical skills and creative thinking”.
Q: “In your opinion what skills will be in demand in the 2020-30s? What the secondary education should prepare pupils to?”
A: Oleg Berezyuk: “The secondary education should ensure basic level of knowledge with potential for development, and in case a pupil has got
this or that gift, school should foster it. And everything else is subject to be gained by a pupil, when he has analytically syntax thinking developed
in his mind and he has enough background. Thus I would not force innovations upon education, I would rather improve basic conservative level
of teaching”.
A: Dmytro Shymkiv: “Firstly a global personality is a human being, able to live in global society and avoid having preconceived attitude to
languages, cultures, races, abilities and faults. This person is able to unlock his potential. If a man has a gift in art or in acting, these skills should
be developed, there is not need to teach him triple integral and complex artificial numbers”.
Voting results: Ukrainian high school education is hopelessly outmoded
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