Ukraine switches to a 12-year school system
2 September 01:35
On September 1, Ukrainian schools launched a pilot project to switch to a 12-year education system. The testing will last until September 1, 2027. This was announced by the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science, and Innovation, Serhiy Babak, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
According to him, the experiment will test new curricula created specifically for this format. They include two areas: academic and professional. This will be the first step towards the implementation of the new State Standard of specialized secondary education.
The procedure for the experiment has not yet been made public, but the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has already made the relevant decision.
Why is Ukraine switching to a 12-year school system?
Mr. Babak named several key reasons for this step.
“The first reason is as Mykola Khvylovyi said: “Away from Moscow!”. Today, only Russia, Belarus and Ukraine have an 11-year system. Instead, the 12-year system is a pan-European standard that is also in place in the United States. The main thing is not only symbolism, but also practice – our certificates will be recognized in Europe,” he said.
The second reason is the specialization of education. Students will be able to choose a field of study that suits their abilities: humanities, natural sciences, or other. This will allow them to focus more deeply on the subjects necessary for their future profession.
“A senior specialized school will provide an opportunity to prepare for admission to the university that matches the student’s intentions and abilities. In the long run, this will reduce the duration of the bachelor’s degree from four to three years,” explained Babak.
When will the system become mandatory?
According to the head of the committee, in 2027, the 12-year system should become the norm for the whole country.
“Testing of the new format will start in a few days. This is an important stage for everyone to be ready for the transition: students, teachers and parents,” he added.
