Kyiv, September 28 – RIA Novosti. The Education Law, which sets strict restrictions on the use of national minority languages ​​in Ukraine, comes into force. The document has already caused a storm of criticism from some European countries.

The governments of Hungary and Romania stated that the law violates the rights of national minorities in Ukraine. The Hungarian Foreign Ministry promised that in response it would block Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, and called the document itself “shameful.” Moscow also believes that the law contradicts the Ukrainian constitution and Kyiv’s international obligations.

The Kyiv authorities assure that the law is aimed at strengthening the position of the Ukrainian language, and the adopted norm does not contradict the European Charter for Regional Languages. They also intend to send a controversial article regarding the language of instruction of national minorities to the Council of Europe for examination.

"Backstab"

On September 25, President Petro Poroshenko signed the law “On Education” and dispelled the hopes of opponents of the document that the right of veto would be applied to it.

In accordance with the new law, from September 1, 2018, it will be possible to study in languages ​​of national minorities in kindergarten and primary school, while simultaneously studying the state language. From the fifth grade, languages ​​of national minorities can only be studied as a separate discipline. From September 1, 2020, education will become entirely Ukrainian-language. This scenario is provided for all national minorities, including schools with exclusively Russian language of instruction.

In Hungary, this step was called a “stab in the back” on the part of Kyiv, since Budapest was an ardent supporter of Ukraine’s European integration and provided it with humanitarian and financial assistance.

“I will make a rather harsh statement on the situation in Ukraine. 150 thousand Hungarian citizens live there, and the Ukrainian parliament passed a law that violates the rights of minorities, including Hungarians, and deprives minorities of many rights in education. They deprived minorities of the right to study in their native language in high school ", said the head of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Peter Szijjártó.

According to him, “this is completely unacceptable, it goes in the completely opposite direction from the one in which Europe should move.”

Szijjártó added that Hungary intends to appeal to European authorities and institutions to prevent the new law from coming into force. In particular, he sent letters explaining the situation and calling for urgent action to OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger, High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier and OSCE Chairman Sebastian Kurz. The Hungarian Foreign Minister also called for emergency measures from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy.

Along with this, the Hungarian diplomatic department promised that in response to the law on education it would block Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

Romania and Moldova also expressed concern about the adopted law. Representatives of Romania appealed to the Ukrainian authorities with a request for the conclusions of the Venice Commission and the OSCE High Commissioner regarding the adopted law.

The foreign ministers of Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece and Romania signed a joint letter to their Ukrainian counterpart Pavel Klimkin, where they expressed concern about the new law. According to Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, the same letter will be sent to the Council of Europe and the OSCE.

Moscow believes that the new law violates the Ukrainian constitution.

“We consider this step as an attempt by the Maidan authorities to carry out a complete Ukrainization of the country’s educational space, which directly contradicts both its constitution and the international obligations assumed by Kiev in the humanitarian sphere,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary.

The department emphasizes that, although the Russian language is not mentioned in the law, “it is obvious that the main goal of current Ukrainian legislators is the maximum infringement of the interests of millions of Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine, the forcible establishment of a monoethnic language regime in a multinational state.”

They don’t see any problems in Kyiv

The Ukrainian Ministry of Education stated that the version of Article 7 of the Law “On Education” approved by the Rada “complies with the constitution and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages ​​ratified by Ukraine.” The department believes that the expansion of teaching in the state language in schools with languages ​​of national minorities is due to the need to help children better master the Ukrainian language and receive a quality education.

Now, according to official statistics, about 400 thousand children in 735 educational institutions study in the languages ​​of national minorities in Ukraine.

At the same time, according to the ministry, the level of proficiency in the state language among children from such schools is steadily declining. Thus, in 2016, more than 60 percent of schoolchildren belonging to the Hungarian and Romanian national minorities were unable to pass the Ukrainian language exam.

“According to statistics from the Ukrainian Center for Assessment of the Quality of Education, in 2016, more than 36 percent of graduates of Transcarpathia passed an external independent assessment (ELA) in the Ukrainian language with a result of one to three points on a 12-point scale. At the same time, the worst results of the EIT in the Ukrainian language were in 2016 "received by graduates from the Beregovsky district, where the Hungarian community lives compactly. Thus, 75 percent of graduates from this district received from one to three points on a 12-point scale with an external examination in the Ukrainian language," the ministry reports.

Exam for the EU: Ukrainization of schools will add enemies to KyivIn Russia they called the scandalous Ukrainian law “On Education” an act of ethnocide of the Russian people. Now it is important how Europe and international organizations react to Kyiv’s actions. Some Europeans, by the way, have already spoken out.

The department believes that this leads to a violation of the constitutional right of children to enter higher education institutions, and also worsens their chances for a successful career.

The head of the Ministry of Education, Liliya Grinevich, announced her intention to send the law “On Education” for examination to the Venice Commission. According to her, the expert opinion could be received by the end of autumn.

Ethnocide of the Russian people

The State Duma of Russia adopted a statement on the inadmissibility of violating the fundamental right of indigenous peoples and national minorities of Ukraine to study in their native languages. Deputies note that the law “On Education” will become an act of ethnocide of the Russian people in Ukraine.

According to the deputies, the law violates the basic standards of the UN and the Council of Europe on the protection of the linguistic identity of indigenous peoples and national minorities, enshrined in international treaties ratified by Ukraine.

“The Constitution of Ukraine is also being violated, according to which the right to study in one’s native language must be guaranteed and the content and scope of existing rights and freedoms must not be narrowed when new laws are adopted,” the document says.

It also notes that representatives of indigenous peoples and national minorities of Ukraine are completely deprived of the right to study in their native languages ​​in state educational institutions; the opportunity to study in them will only be in communal institutions of preschool and general education.

Parliamentarians emphasize that the provisions of the education law do not comply with the principles and norms of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and other international treaties.

“The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which enshrines the principle of recognition of regional or minority languages ​​as cultural wealth, and also obliges states to eliminate any unjustified differences, exceptions, restrictions relating to the use of a regional or minority language and aimed at restraining or jeopardize its conservation or development," the statement said.

Parliamentarians point out that the law grossly infringes on the rights of a significant part of the population of Ukraine - millions of Russians, Bulgarians, Hungarians, Greeks, Moldovans, Poles and Romanians.

The destruction of the national identity and self-awareness of the peoples living on the territory of Ukraine, disregard for the principles and norms of international treaties are unacceptable and require measures to protect their rights and freedoms, deputies believe.

The State Duma proposes to unite the efforts of all parliamentary forces in order to protect indigenous peoples and national minorities of Ukraine from forced assimilation and the imposition of any forms of discrimination.

The deputies express solidarity with the protest position of the authorities of Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, Moldova, Poland and Romania, as well as some residents of Ukraine itself regarding the adopted law. They call on the parliaments of other states, whose official languages ​​are recognized by Ukraine as regional and national minority languages, to take steps to condemn the document.

With one stroke of the pen, the deputies provoked discontent in almost all neighboring countries with the law on education. Kyiv’s European partners are concerned that education in public schools will gradually be transferred to Ukrainian language, and languages ​​of national minorities will be excluded from the educational process. understood the nuances and possible consequences reforms.

They teach at school

In Ukraine, about 400 thousand children in 735 educational institutions are currently studying in the languages ​​of national minorities. In total, there are more than 15 thousand schools in the country, of which 581 are Russian-language schools, Romanian - 75, Hungarian - 71, Moldavian - 3 and Polish - 5. At the same time, according to Deputy Minister of Education and Science Pavel Hobzey, all Ukrainian schools almost 10 percent of students are taught in Russian. Interestingly, in private schools, approximately 40 percent of students choose Russian as their language of education.

Such statistics, however, did not bother Ukrainian legislators. On the first day of the autumn session, September 5, deputies of the Verkhovna Rada in the second reading of the law “On Education”. The document has already been supported by the president of the country, saying that new school opens the door to “a new generation of Ukrainians - competent, patriotic, open to the world.” “Education is the key to the future of Ukraine. The adoption of the new version of the law “On Education” gives us this key,” the head of state clarified.

The main thing in the reform is that teaching in any language other than Ukrainian is actually prohibited in schools. Starting from 2018, teaching in languages ​​of national minorities is abolished, starting from the fifth grade. By 2020, education in languages ​​of national minorities will be completely eliminated. Since 2018, the publication of textbooks in Russian will cease. Small concessions are made only for the “indigenous peoples of Ukraine”. This concept is not clearly stated anywhere, but the authors of the law included the Crimean Tatars, Krymchaks and Karaites as such. They will be allowed to form separate classes in schools. It is also allowed to teach one or more subjects in English and other languages, but Russian-language education will disappear completely.

Experts say that such legislative innovations contradict Article 10 of the Constitution of Ukraine, which states that the state language is Ukrainian, but the state promotes the development of the Russian language and the languages ​​of other national minorities. The right to freely use native languages ​​in all spheres of public life, including education, was also guaranteed in the Declaration of the Rights of Nationalities of Ukraine.

The new law also contradicts the law “On the ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages” of 2003. “The language that is native to children will practically be prohibited for high school graduates, because it simply will not be studied in high school,” predicts an opponent of the reform, a Verkhovna Rada deputy from the Opposition Bloc.

Proponents of change call change natural. “Ukraine is the only country that speaks Ukrainian, and the Law “On Education” expands the use of the state language in the educational sphere, this is normal,” says Education Minister Liliya Grinevich. The department explains the innovations precisely because of concern for the future of children studying in the language of national minorities. It is noted that in 2016, 60 percent of students in Hungarian and Romanian schools did not pass the Ukrainian language testing threshold, which means their opportunities to receive higher education in Ukraine were severely limited.

Knife in the back

The project of Ukrainization of education caused outrage among most of Ukraine's neighboring countries. It is noteworthy that not only Ukrainian opposition politicians, but also an associate of the head of state, the Transcarpathian region (at least 150 thousand ethnic Hungarians, as well as more than 20 thousand ethnic Slovaks and Romanians live in the region) turned to Petro Poroshenko with a demand to veto the law.

Photo: Pavel Palamarchuk / RIA Novosti

Hungary took the toughest and even aggressive position. First, a shameful and shameful document by the country's foreign minister. “The amendment seriously violates the rights of the Hungarian minority. It is disgraceful that a country seeking closer ties with the EU has passed legislation that goes directly against European values,” he said. Budapest later filed a complaint with and. Szijjártó explained that Hungary is asking for measures to be taken that will prevent the law from coming into force. A message was also published on the website of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry that Budapest will no longer support Ukrainian initiatives in international organizations. “Ukraine stuck a knife in Hungary’s back when it introduced changes to the education law,” it says.

The Romanian Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the rights of the Romanian minority in Ukraine will be preserved and emphasized Bucharest's concerns regarding this issue. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs promised to closely monitor the implementation of the Law on Education in Ukraine and take all necessary measures to ensure Poles have access to education in Polish. The President of Moldova and the Kyiv authorities repeal the new law. He expressed the opinion that the community of Romanians and Moldovans in Ukraine is at risk of denationalization. Russian diplomats were the last to react. 12-year education while reducing compulsory subjects from 22 to 9. In particular, instead of physics, chemistry, biology, geography and astronomy, integration courses “Nature and Man” and “Man and the World” will be created. Language and literature will merge into the subject “Literature”, and algebra and geometry will return to general course mathematics. This will likely lead to massive teacher layoffs. A separate amendment stipulates the right to administratively prosecute teachers who make derogatory comments about Ukrainian symbols or the state itself.

The new law should obviously help strengthen the patriotic feelings of Ukrainian youth. It is too early to judge how the innovations will affect the quality of education, but they are unlikely to benefit those students for whom Ukrainian is not their native language. First of all, we are talking about Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine. They are unlikely to be able to prevent the introduction of the law. Russia for last years has lost almost all levers of influence on the neighboring country, and any attempts at self-organization of citizens within Ukraine are interpreted as separatism and are fraught with serious consequences. Representatives of the Hungarian, Romanian and Polish communities have a much greater chance of defending their interests. Ukraine still values ​​European integration, so any barriers on this path will be perceived extremely painfully in Kyiv. It is likely that if Budapest, Warsaw and Bucharest seriously oppose the widespread Ukrainization of education, the Kyiv authorities will have to make concessions.

The education reform, which the deputies voted for, has not yet come into effect, and all because there is no financial support for it, and schools are not ready for all the innovations. For example, the introduction of a 12-year education, with 9 compulsory subjects instead of 25, as now, means that educational institutions must employ specialists who can know physics, chemistry and biology equally well, be ready for an integrated course in history, geography and social studies.

Back in the summer, a financial scandal erupted around education reform. The Prime Minister of Ukraine called it too costly for the state, estimating that the reform will cost taxpayers UAH 87 billion.

Small concessions are provided by law only for representatives of “indigenous peoples” (they will be allowed to have separate classes), as well as for English and the languages ​​of the European Union, in which “one or more subjects” can be taught in schools (apparently, a small concession for Hungarians and Romanians ). But Russian-language education will disappear completely.

In the opposition, linguistic innovations are harshly criticized. “When in middle school only two lessons a day can be taught in the native language, and in high school - none, then this is not the European way. The language that is native to children will practically be prohibited for high school graduates, because it simply will not be studied in high school,” said a people’s deputy from the Opposition Bloc.

Experts note that depriving Russian-speaking citizens of the right to education in their native language will have serious political consequences, increasing the divide in society.

“The percentage of those dissatisfied with the actions of the authorities will increase, and the demand for a complete reboot of power and a change in the country’s course will reach a critical point,” the political scientist believes.

— Already from September 1, parents will see that Russian schools are being closed everywhere and high school classes are being transferred to the Ukrainian language. And this in the southeastern regions can cause an explosive effect. Moreover, we must not forget that the presidential election campaign will de facto begin in September 2018.”

According to the deputy of the Kharkov City Council of six convocations, now living in Crimea, the founder of the video channel “First Capital” Konstantin Kevorkyan, “the ban on education in the native (primarily Russian) language absolutely logically and expectedly completes the assimilation of non-Ukrainian-speaking ethnic groups on the territory of Ukraine. Started by the supposedly innocent Ukrainization of names (Elena to Olena, Konstantin to Kostyantyn, and so on), the process of systematic assimilation was obvious to all sensible people except fanatical fans of both Maidans, who said: where did you see Bandera’s followers? where have you seen the Russian language being infringed?”

Kevorkian also added that the ban on receiving education in Russian is “another step down the path of defeat in political and property rights, repression against timid protesters, and the sale of the lands of your ancestors and descendants to transnational corporations.”

In defiance of Europe

A number of nationalist organizations are irritated by the decision to preserve the right to receive education in the Crimean Tatar language. Dissatisfaction is caused by the fact that representatives of such organizations understand that Crimea will not return to Ukraine in the near future, and the former leader of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis (an organization recognized as extremist and banned in Russia) Mustafa “sleeps and sees the emergence of Tatar autonomy” in one from regions of Ukraine. Dzhemilev himself spoke about the desire to create such autonomy in the Kherson region.

The consequences of such a decision were not long in coming, since parliamentarians, in addition to demonstrating Russophobia, infringed on the rights of Hungarians and Romanians living in the western regions of Ukraine.

In particular, in Transcarpathia there is constant talk about autonomy for several Hungarian-speaking districts - Vinogradovsky and Beregovsky. Previously, activists even erected steles here with text in Hungarian, declaring that these are the lands of the Hungarian people, thus securing their rights to their native language and national self-determination.

A day after the adoption of the scandalous law, the Hungarian government protested. “Ukraine stabbed Hungary in the back when it introduced changes to the education law, which greatly violates the rights of the Hungarian minority.<...>

It is shameful that a country that seeks to develop ever closer relations with Germany has made a decision that is in complete opposition to European values.

It is unacceptable that Ukraine deprived Hungarians of their right to receive education in their native language in schools and universities and left them this opportunity only in kindergartens and primary schools,” the Hungarian statement said.

Hungarian State Secretary for National Policy Janos Arpad Potapi called the decision to reform the Ukrainian education system “an unprecedented restriction of the rights of 150 thousand ethnic Hungarians,” and also reproached Ukrainian legislators for the fact that such a decision “is completely contrary to the constitution.”

At the same time, repression began against Hungarian activists. The head of the Beregovo district council, Yosef Shin, and deputy Otto Vash were accused of separatism. Both were detained.

Bucharest also expressed its dissatisfaction with the adopted bill. The Romanian Foreign Ministry noted that they greeted the news about the Ukrainian education reform “with concern” and believe that the relevant law violates the rights of the Romanian minority. “In this regard, the topic of education in Romanian in Ukraine will be included in the agenda of Secretary of State Victor Micula, who will travel to Kyiv next week,” the country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

How to deal with teachers

The bill provides for a gradual increase in the official salary of teachers to three times the minimum wage by 2023 (by today’s standards this is 9.6 thousand hryvnia). At the same time, the salary of a teacher of each subsequent qualification category will increase by no less than 10%. It is also planned to establish monthly bonuses for teaching and research workers for length of service, as well as for certification.

Until recently, Minister Liliya Grinevich herself stated that in Ukraine, on average, a teacher of the highest category receives 6.5 thousand hryvnia. And starting next year, the salary of such a teacher will double. But so far the government has no idea where to get this money from.

The opposition believes that the problem will be solved by reducing the number of teachers. “Experts have already calculated that about 2/3 of teachers may simply lose their jobs,” says Alexander Vilkul.

One of the important innovations is the introduction of a mechanism for hiring teachers for contract work. School directors will be allowed to hold this position for no more than 6 years. The teachers themselves say that they will become completely dependent on those who will endorse these contracts. The director of one of the Dnepropetrovsk gymnasiums told Gazeta.Ru that this will lead to a massive failure to sign contracts with directors who are obstinate and too principled from the point of view of officials.

It is interesting that while accepting the entire text of the bill as a whole, the deputies also approved one amendment, which they did not vote for separately.

We are talking about Amendment 814, which gives the right to begin administrative prosecution of teachers who make derogatory comments about Ukrainian symbols or the state itself.

This amendment was introduced by a deputy from the Petro Poroshenko Bloc. One of the authors of the project, Alexander Spivakovsky, states that the amendment concerns the fact that “teaching workers who discredit Ukraine, discredit its attributes, the national anthem, etc., cannot work in the education system.” Despite the fact that no one saw its final text, the amendment passed an automatic vote along with the entire text of the bill.

Why does the village need a school?

The bill paves the way for further reductions in the number of schools in rural areas. This process is already underway in the form of the creation of so-called anchor schools, that is, when there is only one school left per united community. If on September 1, 2014 there were 17,600 schools in Ukraine, on September 1, 2016 - 16,900 schools, then by this academic year only 16,566 remained.

During the consideration of the project, deputies called on their colleagues to support the decision so that the flagship school should be located no further than 15 kilometers from the villages where the student lives. The final project is about 50 kilometers.

According to Vasily Pykhta, the director of a secondary school in one of the villages of the Vinnytsia region, there are now 27 students in the first grade of his school, 18 of whom come from villages where there have been no schools for a long time. Some are brought by their parents, others during working week live with relatives.

“Under the president, they tried to launch a school bus that would collect children in villages and bring them to study, but then this project gradually faded away. There were benefits that schoolchildren could travel for free on regular buses, but such a bus visited some villages once a week. This usually leads to two consequences - either the parents consciously decide to quit their studies, or they move from the village. I think there is no need to explain to you that both are bad,” Pykhta told Gazeta.Ru.

Unofficial translation. (c) SoyuzPravoInform

THE LAW OF UKRAINE

About education

Education is the basis for the intellectual, spiritual, physical and cultural development of the individual, his successful socialization, economic well-being, the key to the development of a society united by common values ​​and culture, and the state.

The purpose of education is the comprehensive development of a person as an individual and the highest value of society, his talents, intellectual, creative and physical abilities, the formation of values ​​and competencies necessary for successful self-realization, the education of responsible citizens capable of making conscious public choice and directing their activities for the benefit of other people and society, enriching on this basis the intellectual, economic, creative, cultural potential of the people, increasing the educational level of citizens to ensure the sustainable development of Ukraine and its European choice.

This Law regulates social relations arising in the process of implementing the constitutional human right to education, the rights and obligations of individuals and legal entities who participate in the implementation of this right, and also determines the competence of state bodies and local governments in the field of education.

Section I General Provisions

Article 1. Basic terms and their definitions

1. In this Law, terms are used in the following meaning:

1) autonomy is the right of the subject educational activities to self-government, which consists in its autonomy, independence and responsibility in making decisions regarding academic (educational), organizational, financial, personnel and other issues of activities carried out in the manner and within the limits determined by law;

2) academic freedom - autonomy and independence of participants in the educational process during the implementation of pedagogical, scientific-pedagogical, scientific and/or innovative activities carried out on the principles of freedom of speech, thought and creativity, dissemination of knowledge and information, free publication and use of results scientific research subject to the limitations established by law;

3) free education - education that is acquired by a person at the expense of state and/or local budgets in accordance with the law;

3-1) bullying (harassment) - an act (action or inaction) of participants in the educational process, which consists of psychological, physical, economic, sexual violence, including the use of electronic communications, which is committed against a minor or a minor and ( or) by such a person in relation to other participants in the educational process, as a result of which harm could or has been caused to the mental or physical health of the victim.

Typical signs of bullying are:

systematic (repetitive) action;

the presence of parties - the offender (buller), the victim (victim of bullying), observers (if any);

actions or inaction of the offender, the consequence of which is the infliction of mental and/or physical harm, humiliation, fear, anxiety, subordination to the interests of the injured offender, and/or causing social isolation of the victim;

4) teaching activity - activity that is aimed at the formation of knowledge, other competencies, worldview, development of intellectual and creativity, emotional-volitional and/or physical qualities of education applicants (lecture, seminar, training, courses, master class, webinar, etc.), and which is carried out by a pedagogical (scientific and pedagogical) worker, self-employed person (except for persons who this form of teaching activity is prohibited by law) or by another individual on the basis of a relevant employment or civil law contract;

5) electronic textbook (manual) - an electronic educational publication with a systematic presentation of educational material, which corresponds to the educational program, contains digital objects of different formats and provides interactive interaction;

6) educational institution - a legal entity of public or private law, the main activity of which is educational activity;

7) founder of an educational institution - a public authority on behalf of the state, the relevant council on behalf of the territorial community (communities), an individual and/or legal entity, by decision and at the expense of whose property the educational institution was founded or otherwise acquired rights and obligations in accordance with the law founder;

8) applicants for education - pupils, pupils, students, cadets, trainees, interns, graduate students (adjuncts), doctoral students, and other persons who receive education in any form and form of education;

9) individual educational trajectory - a personal path to realizing the personal potential of an education applicant, which is formed taking into account his abilities, interests, needs, motivation, opportunities and experience, is based on the education applicant’s choice of types, forms and pace of obtaining education, subjects of educational activities and those offered by them educational programs, academic disciplines and their level of complexity, methods and means of teaching. An individual educational trajectory in an educational institution can be implemented through an individual curriculum;

10) individual development program - a document that ensures the individualization of education for a person with special needs educational needs, establishes a list of necessary psychological, pedagogical, correctional needs/services for the development of the child and is developed by a group of specialists with the mandatory involvement of the child’s parents in order to determine specific educational strategies and approaches to learning;

11) individual curriculum - a document that determines the order, form and pace of assimilation by the education applicant of the educational components of the educational program in order to implement his individual educational trajectory and is developed by the educational institution in cooperation with the education applicant if the necessary resources are available for this;

12) inclusive education is a system of educational services guaranteed by the state, which is based on the principles of non-discrimination, taking into account human diversity, effective involvement and inclusion of all its participants in the educational process;

13) inclusive educational environment - a set of conditions, methods and means of their implementation for joint training, education and development of education seekers, taking into account their needs and capabilities;

14) qualification - a standardized set of competencies acquired by a person (learning results) recognized by an authorized entity and certified by an appropriate document;

15) competence - a dynamic combination of knowledge, abilities, skills, ways of thinking, views, values, and other personal qualities, which determines a person’s ability to successfully socialize, carry out professional and/or further educational activities;

16) educational process - a system of scientific, methodological and pedagogical activities aimed at personal development through the formation and application of competencies;

17) educational activity - the activity of the subject of educational activity aimed at organizing, providing and implementing the educational process in formal and/or informal education;

18) educational service - a set of actions of a subject of educational activity determined by legislation, educational program and/or agreement, which have a certain cost and are aimed at achieving the expected learning outcomes by the education applicant;

19) educational program - a single set of educational components (subjects of study, disciplines, individual assignments, control activities, etc.), planned and organized to achieve certain learning outcomes;

20) a person with special educational needs - a person who needs additional permanent or temporary support in the educational process in order to ensure his right to education;

21) pedagogical activity - intellectual, creative activity pedagogical (scientific and pedagogical) worker or self-employed person in formal and/or informal education, aimed at training, education and development of the individual, his general cultural, civil and/or professional competencies;

22) learning outcomes - knowledge, abilities, skills, ways of thinking, views, values, other personal qualities acquired in the process of training, education and development, which can be identified, planned, assessed and measured and which a person is able to demonstrate after completing the educational program or individual educational components;

23) level of education - a completed stage of education, which is characterized by the level of complexity of the educational program, a set of competencies that are determined, as a rule, by the education standard and correspond to a certain level of the National Qualifications Framework;

24) reasonable accommodation - the introduction, if necessary in a particular case, of the necessary modifications and adaptations in order to ensure that persons with special educational needs enjoy the constitutional right to education on an equal basis with other persons;

25) education system - a set of components of education, levels and stages of education, qualifications, educational programs, educational standards, licensing conditions, educational institutions and other subjects of educational activity, participants in the educational process, governing bodies in the field of education, as well as regulatory legal acts, regulating the relationship between them;

26) special laws - laws of Ukraine “On preschool education”, “On general secondary education”, “On out-of-school education”, “On vocational education”, “On higher education”;

27) subject of educational activity - an individual or legal entity (educational institution, enterprise, institution, organization) carrying out educational activities;

28) universal design in the field of education - the design of objects, the environment, educational programs and services, which ensures their maximum suitability for use by all persons without the necessary adaptation or special design;

29) quality of education - compliance of learning outcomes with the requirements established by law, the relevant education standard and/or agreement on the provision of educational services;

30) quality of educational activities - the level of organization, support and implementation of the educational process, ensuring that individuals receive quality education and meets the requirements established by law and/or the agreement on the provision of educational services.

2. The provisions of this and special laws regarding parents also apply to other legal representatives of applicants for education. Parents and other legal representatives implement the relevant provisions of this Law and special laws in relation to persons under the age of majority, as well as in accordance with the law in relation to persons whose legal capacity is limited.

Article 2. Legislation of Ukraine on education

1. The legislation of Ukraine on education is based on the Constitution of Ukraine and consists of this Law, special laws, other acts of legislation in the field of education and science and international treaties of Ukraine concluded in the manner prescribed by law.

2. By-laws cannot narrow the content and scope of the constitutional right to education, as well as the autonomy of subjects of educational activities and academic freedoms of participants in the educational process determined by law.

Letters, instructions, guidelines, other documents of executive authorities, except for orders registered by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, and documents regulating the internal activities of the body, are not normative legal acts and cannot establish legal norms.

3. The subject of educational activity has the right to independently make decisions on any issues within the framework of its autonomy, defined by this Law, special laws and/or constituent documents, on issues not regulated by law.

Article 3. Right to education

1. Everyone has the right to quality and accessible education. The right to education includes the right to receive education throughout life, the right to access to education, the right to free education in cases and in the manner determined by the Constitution and laws of Ukraine.

2. In Ukraine, equal conditions for access to education are created. No one can be limited in their right to receive education. The right to education is guaranteed regardless of age, gender, race, health status, disability, citizenship, nationality, political, religious or other beliefs, skin color, place of residence, language of communication, origin, social and property status, criminal record, as well as others circumstances and signs.

3. A person’s right to education can be realized by obtaining it at different levels of education, in various forms and types, including by obtaining preschool, complete general secondary, out-of-school, vocational (vocational), vocational higher education, higher education and adult education.

4. Everyone has the right to access public educational, scientific and information resources, including the Internet, electronic textbooks and other multimedia educational resources in the manner prescribed by law.

5. The state provides social protection to education seekers in cases determined by law, and also ensures equal access to education to persons from socially vulnerable segments of the population.

6. The state creates conditions for persons with special educational needs to receive education, taking into account individual needs, capabilities, abilities and interests, and also ensures the identification and elimination of factors that impede the realization of the rights and satisfaction of the needs of such persons in the field of education.

7. Foreigners and stateless persons receive education in Ukraine in accordance with the legislation and/or international treaties of Ukraine.

8. A person who is recognized as a refugee or a person in need of additional protection according to the Law of Ukraine “On Refugees and Persons in Need of Additional or Temporary Protection” has the same right to education as citizens of Ukraine.

9. The right to education cannot be limited by law. The law may establish special conditions for access to a certain level of education or specialty (profession).

Article 4. Ensuring the right to free education

1. The state provides:

free preschool, complete general secondary, vocational (vocational), vocational pre-higher and higher education in accordance with educational standards;

development of preschool, complete general secondary, out-of-school, vocational (vocational), professional pre-higher, higher and postgraduate education in accordance with the law.

2. The right to free education is ensured:

for applicants for preschool and complete general secondary education - through the development of a network of educational institutions of all forms of ownership and their financial support in the manner established by law, and in an amount sufficient to ensure the right to education of all citizens of Ukraine, foreign citizens and stateless persons who permanently or temporarily reside on the territory of Ukraine;

for applicants for extracurricular, vocational (vocational), professional pre-higher and postgraduate education - in educational institutions or other subjects of educational activities through funding from the state and/or local budgets in the manner prescribed by law;

for applicants for higher education - in educational institutions through funding from the state and/or local budgets in the manner prescribed by law.

3. The state guarantees to all citizens of Ukraine and other persons who are in Ukraine legally the right to free complete general secondary education in accordance with educational standards.

The state guarantees free provision of textbooks (including electronic ones), manuals to all applicants for complete general secondary education and teaching staff in the manner established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

Article 5. State policy in the field of education

1. Education is a state priority that ensures the innovative, socio-economic and cultural development of society. Financing education is an investment in human potential, sustainable development of society and the state.

2. State policy in the field of education is determined by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and is implemented by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the central executive body in the field of education and science, and others central authorities executive power and local government bodies.

3. State policy in the field of education is formed and implemented on the basis of scientific research, international obligations, domestic and foreign experience, taking into account forecasts, statistical data and development indicators in order to meet the needs of individuals and society.

4. Documents of state forecasting and strategic planning for the development of education are the forecast for the development of education, the strategy for the development of education in Ukraine, relevant state, regional and local target programs, activity plans in the field of education of government authorities. Authorities provide public access to these documents by publishing them on their official websites.

5. The state creates conditions for obtaining civic education aimed at developing competencies related to the realization by a person of his rights and responsibilities as a member of society, awareness of the values ​​of a civil (free democratic) society, the rule of law, human and civil rights and freedoms.

Article 6. Principles public policy in the field of education and principles of educational activities

1. The principles of state policy in the field of education and the principles of educational activities are:

human-centrism;

the rule of law;

ensuring the quality of education and the quality of educational activities;

ensuring equal access to education without discrimination on any grounds, including disability;

development of an inclusive educational environment, including in educational institutions that are most accessible and closest to the place of residence of persons with special educational needs;

providing universal design and reasonable accommodation;

scientific nature of education;

diversity of education;

integrity and continuity of the education system;

transparency and publicity of the adoption and implementation of management decisions;

responsibility and accountability of educational authorities and educational institutions, other subjects of educational activities to society;

institutional separation of control (supervision) functions and functions of ensuring the activities of educational institutions;

integration with the labor market;

inextricable connection with the world and national history, culture, national traditions;

freedom in choosing the types, forms and pace of obtaining education, educational programs, educational institutions, and other subjects of educational activity;

academic virtue;

academic freedom;

financial, academic, personnel and organizational autonomy of educational institutions within the limits determined by law;

humanism;

democracy;

unity of training, education and development;

education of patriotism, respect for cultural values Ukrainian people, their historical and cultural heritage and traditions;

the formation of a conscious need to comply with the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, intolerance for their violation;

formation of respect for human rights and freedoms, intolerance to humiliation of his honor and dignity, physical or mental violence, as well as discrimination on any grounds;

formation of civil culture and culture of democracy;

creating a healthy lifestyle culture, ecological culture and respect for the environment;

non-interference of political parties in the educational process;

non-interference of religious organizations in the educational process (except for cases specified by this Law);

versatility and balance of information regarding political, ideological and religious issues;

public-public administration;

public-public partnership;

public private partnership;

promoting lifelong learning;

integration into the international educational and scientific space;

intolerance to manifestations of corruption and bribery;

accessibility for every citizen of all forms and types of educational services provided by the state.

2. Education in Ukraine should be built on the principle of equal opportunities for everyone.

Article 7. Language of education

1. The language of the educational process in educational institutions is the state language.

The state guarantees every citizen of Ukraine the right to receive formal education at all levels (preschool, general secondary, vocational (vocational), vocational pre-higher and higher), as well as additional and postgraduate education in the state language in state and municipal educational institutions.

Persons who belong to national minorities of Ukraine are guaranteed the right to study in communal educational institutions to receive pre-school and primary education, along with the state language, in the language of the corresponding national minority. This right is implemented by creating, in accordance with the legislation, separate classes (groups) with instruction in the language of the relevant national minority along with the state language and does not apply to classes (groups) with instruction in the Ukrainian language.

Persons belonging to the indigenous peoples of Ukraine are guaranteed the right to study in communal educational institutions to receive pre-school and general secondary education, along with the state language of the corresponding indigenous people. This right is implemented by creating, in accordance with the legislation, separate classes (groups) with instruction in the language of the corresponding indigenous people of Ukraine along with the state language and does not apply to classes (groups) with instruction in the Ukrainian language.

Persons who belong to indigenous peoples and national minorities of Ukraine are guaranteed the right to study the language of the corresponding indigenous people or national minority in communal institutions of general secondary education or through national cultural societies.

Persons with hearing impairment are guaranteed the right to sign language training and to study Ukrainian sign language.

2. Educational institutions provide compulsory study of the state language, in particular institutions of vocational (vocational), professional pre-higher and higher education - to the extent that allows professional activities in the chosen industry using the state language.

Persons who belong to indigenous peoples, national minorities of Ukraine, foreigners and stateless persons are provided with appropriate conditions for learning the state language.

3. The state promotes language learning international communication, primarily English, in state and municipal educational institutions.

4. In educational institutions, according to the educational program, one or more disciplines may be taught in two or more languages ​​- the state language, English language, other official languages ​​of the European Union.

5. At the request of applicants for vocational (vocational), professional pre-higher and higher education, educational institutions create opportunities for studying the language of the indigenous people, the national minority of Ukraine as a separate discipline.

6. The state promotes the creation and operation of educational institutions abroad in which education is carried out in the Ukrainian language or the Ukrainian language is studied.

7. Features of the use of languages ​​in certain types and at certain levels of education are determined by special laws.

Article 8. Types of education

1. A person realizes his right to education throughout his life through formal, non-formal and informal education. The state recognizes these types of education, creates conditions for the development of educational entities that provide relevant educational services, and also encourages the acquisition of education of all types.

2. Formal education is education that is acquired through educational programs in accordance with the levels of education, branches of knowledge, specialties (professions) defined by law and provides for the achievement by applicants of education of the learning outcomes of the appropriate level of education and qualifications that are recognized by the state, determined by educational standards.

3. Non-formal education is education that is acquired, as a rule, through educational programs and does not provide for the award of state-recognized educational qualifications by level of education, but may result in the assignment of professional and/or the award of partial educational qualifications.

4. Informal education (self-education) is education that provides for the self-organized acquisition by a person of certain competencies, in particular during everyday activities related to professional, social or other activities, family or leisure.

5. Learning results obtained through non-formal and/or informal education are recognized in the formal education system in the manner prescribed by law.

Article 9. Forms of education

1. A person has the right to receive education in various forms or a combination of them.

The main forms of education are:

institutional (full-time (day, evening), correspondence, distance, network);

individual (externship, family (home), pedagogical patronage, in the workplace (in production);

dual.

2. Full-time (daytime, evening) form of education is a way of organizing training for education seekers, which involves their direct participation in the educational process.

3. Correspondence education is a way of organizing training for education seekers by combining full-time education during short-term sessions and independent mastery of the educational program in the interval between them.

4. A distance form of education is an individualized process of obtaining education, which occurs mainly with indirect interaction of distant participants in the educational process in a specialized environment that operates on the basis of modern psychological, pedagogical and information and communication technologies.

5. The network form of education is a way of organizing training for education seekers, thanks to which mastery of the educational program occurs with the participation of various subjects of educational activity who interact with each other on a contractual basis.

6. An external form of education (externship) is a way of organizing training for education applicants, in which the educational program is fully assimilated by the applicant independently, and the assessment of learning outcomes and the award of educational qualifications are carried out in accordance with the law.

7. Family (home) form of education is a way of organizing the educational process of children independently by their parents to receive formal (preschool, complete general secondary) and/or informal education. Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children receive an education at a level not lower than educational standards. Assessing learning outcomes and awarding educational qualifications are carried out in accordance with the law.

8. Pedagogical patronage is a way of organizing the educational process by teaching staff, which involves ensuring that they master the educational program of an education applicant who, due to a psychophysical condition or for other reasons determined by law, in particular in order to ensure accessibility to education, requires such a form.

9. Obtaining education in the workplace is a way of organizing training for education seekers, thanks to which mastery of an educational program (usually vocational (vocational, technical, professional, pre-higher education)) occurs in production through practical training, participation in the performance of job duties and tasks under the guidance of practitioners involved in the educational process.

10. A dual form of education is a method of obtaining education that involves a combination of training for individuals in educational institutions (from other subjects of educational activity) with on-the-job training at enterprises, institutions and organizations to acquire certain qualifications, usually on the basis of a contract.

11. Features of the application of forms of education for different levels of education may be determined by special laws.

Law of Ukraine dated September 5, 2017 No. 2145-VIII
"About Education"

About the document

Publishing a document

Official Bulletin of Ukraine dated October 6, 2017 No. 78, p. 7, article 2392, act code 87438/2017

Document Note

In accordance with Part 1 of Section XII, this Law comes into force on the day following the day of its publication - September 28, 2017, with the exception of:

And paragraph three of part two of Article 59 of this Law, which come into force on January 1, 2018;

- paragraphs one and three of part two of Article 61 of this Law, which come into force on January 1, 2018 and are implemented in accordance with subparagraph 1 of paragraph 6 of this section;

This Law (the Law on Education of Ukraine) defines the legal, organizational and financial foundations for the functioning and development of the general secondary education system, which promotes the free development of the human personality and forms the values ​​of a legal democratic society in Ukraine.

General provisions of the Law of Ukraine "On General Secondary Education"

Article 1. Legislation of Ukraine on general secondary education

The legislation of Ukraine on general secondary education is based on the Constitution of Ukraine and consists of the Law of Ukraine “On Education”, this Law, other normative legal acts and international treaties of Ukraine, the consent to be bound by which is provided by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Article 2. The main objectives of the legislation of Ukraine on general secondary education

The main objectives of the legislation of Ukraine on general secondary education are:
- Ensuring the right of citizens to access and free access to complete general secondary education.
- Providing the necessary conditions for the functioning and development of general secondary education.
- Providing legal framework regarding the compulsoryness of complete general secondary education.
- Determination of the structure and content of general secondary education.
- determination of governing bodies of the general secondary education system and their powers.
- Determining the rights and obligations of participants in the educational process, establishing responsibility for violating the legislation on secondary education.

Article 3. General secondary education

General secondary education is a purposeful process of mastering systematized knowledge about nature, man, society, culture and production through cognitive and practical activities, the result of which is the intellectual, social and physical development of the individual, which is the basis for further education and labor activity. General secondary education is a compulsory main component continuing education. General secondary education is aimed at the comprehensive development of the individual through training and education, based on universal human values ​​and the principles of science, multiculturalism, the secular nature of education, systematicity, integrativeness, unity of education and upbringing, on the principles of humanism, democracy, civic consciousness, mutual respect between nations and peoples in the interests of the individual, family, society, state.

Article 4. System of general secondary education

The secondary education system consists of: General educational institutions of all types and forms of ownership, including for citizens in need of social assistance and social rehabilitation, educational and production plants, non-school institutions, scientific and methodological institutions and governing bodies of the general secondary education system, as well as vocational and technical and higher educational institutions of I-II levels of accreditation, which provide complete secondary education.

Article 5. The task of general secondary education

The objectives of general secondary education are:
- Raising a citizen of Ukraine.
- Formation of the student’s (pupil’s) personality, development of his abilities and talents, scientific worldview.
- Fulfillment of the requirements of the State Standard of General Secondary Education, preparation of students (pupils) for further education and work.
- Instilling in students (pupils) respect for the Constitution of Ukraine, state symbols of Ukraine, human and civil rights and freedoms, self-esteem, responsibility before the law for their actions, a conscious attitude towards the responsibilities of a person and a citizen.
- Realization of the right of students (pupils) to freely form political and ideological beliefs.
- Fostering a respectful attitude towards family, respect for folk traditions and customs, state and native languages, national values ​​of the Ukrainian people and other peoples and nations.
- Fostering a conscious attitude towards one’s own health and the health of other citizens as the highest social value, developing hygienic skills and principles of a healthy lifestyle, maintaining and strengthening the physical and mental health of students.

Article 6. Receiving complete general secondary education

1. Citizens of Ukraine, regardless of race, skin color, political, religious and other beliefs, gender, ethnic and social origin, property status, place of residence, linguistic or other characteristics, are ensured access and free access to complete general secondary education in state and municipal educational institutions .

2. Citizens of Ukraine have the right to receive complete general secondary education in private educational institutions.

3. Receiving complete general secondary education in educational institutions, regardless of subordination, types and forms of ownership, must comply with the requirements of the State Standard of General Secondary Education.

4. Foreigners and stateless persons who are in Ukraine legally, receive complete secondary education in the manner established for citizens of Ukraine.

5. Responsibility for children receiving a complete general secondary education rests with their parents, and for children deprived of parental care - with the persons replacing them or the educational institutions where they are raised.

Article 7. Language(s) of teaching and upbringing in general education institutions

The language(s) of instruction and upbringing in general educational institutions is determined in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine “On Languages ​​in the Ukrainian SSR”.

General education and other educational institutions of the general secondary education system

Article 8. General educational institution

1. A general educational institution is an educational institution that ensures the realization of the right of citizens to general secondary education. A general educational institution based on private ownership operates with a license issued in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Ukraine.

2. General educational institution providing innovative activity, may have experimental status. The experimental status does not change the subordination, type and form of ownership of a general educational institution. Regulations on experimental general education educational institution approved by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine.

Article 9. Types of general education and other educational institutions of the general secondary education system

1. According to the educational level, which is provided by a general educational institution (primary general education, basic general secondary education, complete general secondary education), there are different types of general education institutions of I, II, III degrees. Schools at each of the three levels can operate together or independently.

General education institutions include:
- Secondary school - general educational institution of I-III stages (I stage - Primary School, II stage - basic school, III stage - high school, as a rule, with a specialized area of ​​study).
- Specialized school (boarding school) - a general educational institution of levels I-III with in-depth study of individual subjects and courses.
- Gymnasium is a general educational institution of II-III levels with in-depth study of individual subjects in the profile.
- Lyceum - general educational institution III degree With specialized training and pre-vocational training.
- Collegium is a comprehensive educational institution of the third degree with philological, philosophical and (or) cultural and aesthetic profiles.
- General education boarding school - a general educational institution with partial or full support at the expense of the state for children in need of social assistance.
- Special general education school (boarding school) - a general educational institution for children who need correction of physical and (or) mental development.
- General education sanatorium school (boarding school) - a general educational institution of levels I-III with an appropriate profile for children in need of long-term treatment.
- School of Social Rehabilitation - a general educational institution for children in need of special educational conditions (created separately for boys and girls).
- Evening (shift) school - a general educational institution of II-III degrees for citizens who do not have the opportunity to study in schools with full-time education.

2. Other educational institutions of the general secondary education system:
- Out-of-school educational institution - an educational institution for raising children and meeting their needs for additional education based on interests (scientific, technical, artistic, aesthetic, sports, etc.).
- Interschool Training and Production Plant - an educational institution to meet the needs of students of general education institutions in career guidance, pre-vocational, vocational training.
- Vocational and technical educational institution - an educational institution to meet the needs of citizens in vocational and technical and complete general secondary education. - A higher educational institution of I-II levels of accreditation is an educational institution to meet the needs of citizens at the educational and qualification levels of junior specialist and bachelor with the simultaneous completion of complete general secondary education.

3. General educational institutions may create classes (groups) with evening (correspondence) courses, classes (groups) with in-depth study of individual subjects. General educational institutions, regardless of subordination, types and forms of ownership, may include boarding schools with partial or full maintenance of students (pupils) at the expense of the owner. General education institutions can create educational complexes as part of educational institutions various types and levels of accreditation to satisfy pre-professional and professional requests of citizens, as well as educational associations with pre-school and out-of-school educational institutions to meet educational and cultural-educational needs.

4. The list of special general education schools (boarding schools) is determined by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine in agreement with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

5. The regulations on general education institutions are approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. A general education institution, on the basis of the Regulations on General Education Institutions, develops a charter, which is approved by the owner (for state and municipal general education institutions - by the relevant education management body) and registered by the local executive authority or local government body.

Article 10. Status of a general educational institution

1. A general educational institution is a legal entity. According to their organizational and legal forms, general educational institutions can be of state, communal and private forms of ownership.
2. A general educational institution based on the state form of ownership has state status.
3. A general education institution based on a communal form of ownership has communal status.
4. A general educational institution based on a private form of ownership has private status.

Article 11. Creation, reorganization and liquidation of a general educational institution

1. State and municipal general educational institutions are created, respectively, by central, local executive authorities or local self-government bodies, taking into account socio-economic, national, cultural, educational and linguistic needs in the presence of the required number of students (pupils) in accordance with established standards for class occupancy, the necessary material, technical, scientific and methodological base, teaching staff in the manner established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

2. The decision on the creation of communal general educational institutions for orphans and children deprived of parental care, special general education schools (boarding schools) for children in need of correction of physical and (or) mental development, are adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, regional , Kiev and Sevastopol city state administrations in agreement with the Ministry of Education of Ukraine.

3. The decision to create gymnasiums, lyceums, colleges, specialized schools (boarding schools), based on a communal form of ownership, are made upon the proposal of the relevant educational authorities by the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, regional, Kyiv and Sevastopol city state administrations.

4. The decision to create a general educational institution based on private ownership is made by the founder (owner) in the manner established by the legislation of Ukraine.

5. The decision on the creation of social rehabilitation schools, their subordination and sources of funding is made by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the proposal of the Ministry of Education of Ukraine.

6. Reorganization and liquidation of general educational institutions are carried out in the manner established by the legislation of Ukraine. Reorganization and liquidation of general educational institutions in rural areas based on a communal form of ownership is allowed only with the consent of territorial communities.

Organization of the educational process in general education institutions

Article 12. Duration of study

1. The period of study for obtaining complete general secondary education in general educational institutions of the I-III levels is 12 years:
- In general education institutions of the first degree - 4 years.
- In secondary educational institutions of the second degree - 5 years.
- In general educational institutions of the third degree - 3 years.

2. The period of study in general educational institutions for children in need of correction of physical and (or) mental development is established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

3. In vocational-technical and higher educational institutions of I-II levels of accreditation, the period for obtaining complete general secondary education is established by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine.

Article 13. Forms of training

The educational process in general educational institutions is carried out according to group and individual forms of education, the provisions of which are approved by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine. Those who wish are given the right and conditions are created for accelerated graduation from school and passing exams as an external student.

Article 14. Class occupancy of general education institutions

1. The class size of general education institutions should not exceed 30 students.
2. In general education institutions located in villages and towns, the number of students in classes is determined demographic situation, but must be at least five people. With fewer students in the class, classes are conducted according to individual form training.
3. The procedure for dividing classes into groups when studying individual subjects is established by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine in agreement with the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine.
4. For special general education schools (boarding schools), the number of students in a class is determined by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine in agreement with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine.
5. Number of students in groups extended day and pupils in groups of general education institutions of all types is determined by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine in agreement with the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine.

Article 15. Curricula and student workloads

1. The basic curriculum of general education institutions (hereinafter referred to as the Basic Curriculum) determines the structure and content of general secondary education through invariant and variable components, which establish the hourly and semantic relationship between educational areas (cycles of academic subjects), the maximum permissible study load students and the total annual number of teaching hours. The invariant component of the content of general secondary education is formed at the state level, is uniform for all institutions of general secondary education, and is determined through the educational areas of the basic curriculum. The variable component of the content of general secondary education is formed by the general education institution, taking into account the characteristics of the region and the individual educational needs of students. The basic curriculum for general education institutions, regardless of subordination, types and forms of ownership, is approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

2. Based on the basic curriculum, the Ministry of Education of Ukraine approves standard curricula for general education institutions, regardless of subordination, types and forms of ownership. In standard curricula, educational areas are implemented in academic subjects and courses of invariant and variable components of the content of general secondary education.

Model curricula establish the total maximum permissible study load for students. It amounts to the following number of teaching hours per year:
- 1-2 grades - 700 hours.
- 3-4 grades - 790 hours.
- 5th grade - 860 hours.
- 6-7 grades - 890 hours.
- 8-9 grades - 950 hours.
- 10-12 grades - 1030 hours.

3. Based on standard curricula, the general education institution develops a working curriculum with specification of the variable part and determination of the training profile. The working curricula of state and municipal general education institutions are approved by the relevant education management body. The working curricula of private secondary schools are agreed with the relevant educational authorities. The working curricula of vocational and technical and higher educational institutions of I-II levels of accreditation, in terms of obtaining complete general secondary education, are developed on the basis of standard curricula for general education institutions and are agreed with the Ministry of Education of Ukraine. Experimental working curricula are compiled taking into account standard curricula, by general educational institutions that have experimental status. The introduction of experimental working curricula, new educational programs, pedagogical innovations and technologies is possible only by decision of the Ministry of Education of Ukraine.

Article 16. Academic year and operating hours of the general education institution

1. The academic year in general education institutions, regardless of subordination, types and forms of ownership, begins on Knowledge Day - September 1 and ends no later than July 1 of the following year.

2. Duration school year in general education institutions of the first degree cannot be less than 175 working days, and in general educational institutions of the second and third degrees - 190 working days, excluding the time for passing transfer and final exams, the duration of which cannot exceed three weeks.

3. The structure of the academic year (for a quarter, half a year, semesters) and the duration of the academic week are established by the general education institution within the time provided for by the working curriculum, in agreement with the relevant education management body.

4. The operating hours of a general education educational institution are determined by it on the basis of regulations and in agreement with the relevant body of the state sanitary and epidemiological service.

5. The duration of lessons in general education institutions is:

• in first grade - 35 minutes,
• in second - fourth grades - 40 minutes,
• in the fifth - twelfth grade - 45 minutes.

Changing the duration of lessons is allowed in agreement with the relevant educational authorities and the state sanitary and epidemiological service. The difference in teaching hours between the first and fourth grades must be taken into account and compensated for by conducting additional, individual classes and consultations with students.

6. The duration of vacations in general education institutions during the academic year cannot be less than 30 calendar days.

Article 17. Educational process in general education institutions

1. The education of students (pupils) in general education institutions is carried out in the process of classroom, extracurricular and extracurricular work with them. The goals of the educational process in general education institutions are determined on the basis of the principles laid down in the Constitution of Ukraine, laws and other legal acts of Ukraine.

2. In general educational institutions, the creation and operation of organizational structures political parties, as well as religious organizations and paramilitary forces.

3. Forced attraction of students (pupils) of secondary schools to enroll in any associations of citizens, religious organizations and paramilitary formations is prohibited.

Article 18. Enrollment of students

1. Local executive authorities or local self-government bodies assign the corresponding service areas to general education educational institutions and, by the beginning of the school year, take into account the students who must attend them.

2. Enrollment of students in general education institutions is carried out by order of the director, which is issued on the basis of an application, in the presence of a medical certificate of the established form and a corresponding document on education (except for first-grade students).

3. Enrollment of students in gymnasiums, lyceums, colleges, specialized schools (boarding schools) is carried out in the manner established by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine.

4. Enrollment of students in a general education sanatorium school (boarding school) is carried out in the manner established by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

5. The placement of students (pupils) in social rehabilitation schools and their early release from these educational institutions are carried out by court decision.

6. The enrollment and selection of children for education in special general education schools (boarding schools), their transfer from one type of such educational institutions to another is carried out upon the conclusion of appropriate psychological, medical and pedagogical consultations in the manner established by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine.

Participants in the educational process in general education institutions

Article 19. Participants in the educational process

Participants in the educational process in general education institutions are:
- Students (pupils).
- Leaders.
- Teaching staff, psychologists, librarians.
- Other specialists.
- Parents or persons replacing them.

Article 20. Pupil (pupil)

1. Student (pupil) - a person who studies and is educated in one of the educational institutions. Students are usually enrolled in general education institutions from the age of 6.

2. The status of students (pupils) as participants in the educational process in general education institutions, their rights and obligations are determined by this Law and other regulations.

Article 21. Social protection of students (pupils)

1. Students (pupils) of general education institutions may receive additional social and material assistance at the expense of the funds of ministries and departments and local budgets, funds of legal entities and individuals of Ukraine and citizens living abroad, as well as funds from the compulsory education fund and at the expense of others revenues. Students (pupils) of general education institutions, regardless of subordination, types and forms of ownership, have the right to preferential travel by urban and suburban passenger transport in the manner established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Students (pupils) of secondary schools in rural areas are provided with transport to their places of study and home free of charge.

2. Children with hearing, vision, and musculoskeletal impairments are provided with means of individual correction in the manner established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

3. Pupils of boarding schools of all types from among orphans and children deprived of parental care are fully supported by the state. Orphans and children deprived of parental care who study in other general educational institutions are provided with food, clothing and other services in the manner established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The retention of pupils in need of correction of physical and (or) mental development in special general education schools (boarding schools) is carried out at the expense of the state.

4. Orphans, children deprived of parental care, children who need correction of physical and (or) mental development are employed or continue their education in accordance with the education received in the manner established by the legislation of Ukraine.

Article 22. Protection and promotion of health of students (pupils)

1. A general educational institution provides safe and harmless learning conditions, working hours, conditions for physical development and health promotion, develops hygienic skills and the foundations of a healthy lifestyle for students (pupils).

2. Students (pupils) of general education institutions, regardless of subordination, types and forms of ownership, are provided with medical care, which is provided by medical workers who are on the staff of these institutions or relevant health care institutions, in the manner established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Health care institutions, together with educational authorities and health authorities, annually provide free medical examination of students (pupils), monitoring and correction of health status, are responsible for compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards, carrying out treatment and preventive measures in educational institutions, regardless of subordination, types and forms of ownership.

3. Responsibility for organizing meals for students (pupils) in general education institutions, regardless of subordination, types and forms of ownership, rests with the founders (owners) and heads of these educational institutions. The norms and procedures for organizing meals for students (pupils) in general education institutions are established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

4. Control over the health protection and quality of nutrition of students (pupils) is entrusted to the health authorities.

Article 23. Encouragement of students (pupils)

Various types of moral incentives and material incentives are established for students (pupils), provided for by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine, other executive authorities and local governments, and the charter of a general education institution.

Article 24. Teaching staff

1. A pedagogical worker must be a person with high moral qualities, has an appropriate pedagogical education, an appropriate level vocational training, carries out pedagogical activities that ensure the effectiveness and quality of his work, the physical and mental state of health of which allows him to perform professional duties in educational institutions of the general secondary education system. The list of positions of teaching staff in the general secondary education system is established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

2. The position of the head of a general education educational institution, regardless of subordination, type and form of ownership, can be held by a person who is a citizen of Ukraine, has a higher pedagogical education at the specialist or master’s level, has at least three years of teaching experience, has successfully passed the certification of educational management personnel in the manner established by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine.

Article 25. Teaching load

1. The pedagogical workload of a teacher in a general education institution, regardless of subordination, type and form of ownership, is the time allocated for the implementation of the educational process.

The teacher’s teaching load includes 18 teaching hours during the school week, which constitute the tariff rate, as well as other types pedagogical activity in the following ratio to the tariff rate:
- Cool management - 20-25 percent.
- Checking notebooks - 10-20 percent.
- management:
- Workshops - 15-20 percent.
- classrooms - 10-15 percent.
- Training and experimental sites - 10-15 percent.

The amounts and procedure for establishing additional payments for other types of teaching activities are determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The teaching load of a teacher in a general education institution is 30 hours, and that of a teacher in a general education special school (boarding school) is 25 hours a week, which is the tariff rate. The tariff rates for other teaching staff in general education institutions are established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

The distribution of the teaching load in a general education institution is carried out by its head and approved by the relevant education management body.