EDUCATION

Education is the cornerstone of a contemporary open society and the foundation on which a stable secure state can be built. Progress occurs as a result of successes in various fields of science and technology - and from the human development perspective requires well-prepared specialists able to actively take part in this process.

The existing conditions of education in Ukraine may have unpredictable consequences for sustaining human development in Ukraine. The comprehensive education system built up in Soviet Ukraine is not able to meet the needs of an open society. Attempts to overcome these inadequacies have been spontaneous and unsystematic.

Today the Ukrainian education system faces a number of problems. New economic conditions require new knowledge and skills. The vertical education structure, with its respective divisions into various branches does not meet the requirements of a market economy.

In the new circumstances, the structural imbalance between the system of training personnel for high schools and the system of professional-technical education on the one hand, and the needs of a contemporary society on the other. There are insufficient numbers of specialists in the humanities, economics, political science, and international relations. Consequently, the response in the educational system has been to reduce the training of engineers and technical specialists (1990 - 54%, 1996 - 42%) and increase the number of specialists trained in the humanities, economics, and management.

Educational institutions that provide re-training have become especially important in the present economic situation. The majority of those who undergo re-training specialize in economics, management and trade (about 70%).

The shift from state monopoly of education, and the decentralization of administration of the system, (transfer of decision-making to schools or local authorities previously vested in the central government) characterize the current situation. However, the demonopolization of education has not yet been sufficiently carried out. For instance, 39% of the courses in institutions of higher education are taught by order of the Ministry of Education. This is the highest indicator among the countries Central and Western Europe where the average is 26%.

Positive changes in the field of education are linked to the creation of a legislative framework. In 1996, a law On Education was adopted. The provisions of the law On Education make the education system more democratic, lay the foundation for the establishment of private schools and higher educational institutions, and expand teachers' opportunities to choose the topics in the curriculum they teach. The law On Education recognizes the right of students (or their parents) to choose the type of educational institution according to their possibilities and interests. This demonstrates that educational opportunities from which Ukrainians can choose have expanded - one of most important elements of human development.

One sphere of activity in the education field has been international cooperation which is assisting in making the national educational system correspond with international norms and in attracting foreign investment for the development of educational opportunities in Ukraine. Approximately 50 foreign institutions, organizations and funds have been providing assistance to the reform and development of the education system in Ukraine including the Council of Europe, UNESCO, the British Council, the Goethe Institute, TEMPUS, TACIS, etc.

According to the data of the Kyiv City Department Statistics as of 1 january 1997 the system of education in Kyiv includes 1,200 institutions and establishments ranging from kindergartens to post-graduate educational establishments, with the total payroll of 732,000 children, shoolpupils, and students.

The training activity in the city of Kyiv is implemented by 49 higher educational institutions of the third and fourth levels of accreditation (178,900 students), 46 educational institutions of the first and second levels of accreditation (41,900 students), as well as 44 secondary vocational establishments (24,400 students), and the system of advanced training.

The process of optimization of the network of vocational education continues in Kyiv. As of 1 January 1997, the number of vocational schools decreased by three; the overall number of students entering vocational schools after graduating from secondary school increased to some extent.

Higher educational establishments based in the city of Kyiv train specialists for all the sectors of the national economy. Nearly 22.2% of the overall number of specialists trained by higher educational establishments of the third-fourth levels of accreditation are to work in the industry, 21% - in the system of education, and more than 22% - in the fields of economy and law. These are the largest groups of students. The analysis of the structure of graduates from these higher educational establishments in 1996 compared to 1995 shows that the shares of specialists to be engaged in the filed of economy and law increased from 17.9% to 24.6% (7,300) of the overall number of graduates, the share of specialists to be engaged in transport and communications also increased (from 5.9% to 9.1%). The share of graduates to be engaged in the industry and construction decreased to 6,500 (21.9% of the overall number). To the contrary, the number of graduates to be engaged in education increased from 7,300 to 7,400 (24.9%).

Higher educational establishments of the first and second level of accreditation based in Kyiv train mainly specialists to be engaged in industry and construction. In 1996, 6,000 specialists (46.5% of the overall number of graduates) were trained for industry and construction. 1.700 graduates (13.2%) are to be engaged in transport and communications; 1,700 (13.2%) - in health care; and 1,100 (8.5%) - in education. To some extent, the structure of training reflects the shifts in priorities of the development of domestic economy, production, and social sphere.