Starting in September 2018, children who start school have 12 years of education, while those already in school complete their studying by 11-year system. As a rule, schooling begins at the age of 6, unless your birthday is on or after 1 September.Bassis/Dhilawala. (2009). Cultures of the World:Ukraine p.72 In 2016/17, the number of students in primary and secondary school reached 3,846,000, in vocational school 285,800, and in higher education 1,586,700 students. According to 2017 EduConf speech of the (then) Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Liliya Hrynevych, the amount of budget financing for the sphere of education would reach about ₴53 billion in 2017 (compared to 42 in 2016).
The NGO Human Rights Measurement Initiative in the spring of 2022 concluded that Ukraine is fulfilling 84.2% of what they should be fulfilling on the right to education, based on their level of income.
Ukrainian educational system
The Ukrainian educational system is organized into five levels: preschool, primary, secondary, upper secondary and postgraduate education.
In 2010 a total of 56% of children aged one to six years old had the opportunity to attend preschool education, the Education and Science Ministry of Ukraine reported in August 2010.Education Ministry: Some 44 percent of children unable to attend kindergarten , Kyiv Post (11 August 2010)
Schools receive 50% of their funding from the city budget and 50% from the national Government budget.Tymoshenko promises to commission all unfinished schools in 2010 , Interfax-Ukraine (5 October 2009) The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine intends to give general education schools the option to independently manage the financial resources assigned from the state budget starting from 1 January 2010.Ukrainian schools to manage budgetary financing independently starting from 1 January, says Tymoshenko , Interfax-Ukraine (1 October 2009)
School level Grade Age School level Accreditation 1 6/7 primary I level 2 7/8 3 8/9 4 9/10 5 10/11 secondary, base II level 6 11/12 7 12/13 8 13/14 9 14/15 10 15/16 secondary, last III level1116/171217/18
Currently in Ukraine, school attendance is designated for children and teenagers from age 6 to 17. Ukraine has several types of general education institutions. Some schools may be boarding schools and named school-internat or lyceum-internat. Middle School of General Education (ZOSh) or Middle School Lyceum (Technikum in the Soviet times) Grammar school
The institution is called Middle School of General Education (ZOSh) or simply Middle School, and usually combines primary and secondary levels of education. The system was first introduced in 1958 and included a 12-grade system, while in 1965 it was a 10-grade system. Most middle schools have all three levels of accreditation for General Education. Some remote schools have only two levels, which is the minimum requirement for all middle schools.
Primary and secondary education is divided into three levels of accreditation of general education: I - "younger", II - "middle", and III - "senior". Level 1 comprises grades 1 to 4. Grades 5-9 are usually considered a II level of accreditation or a base secondary education, while 10-12 are a III level. Despite the names, students usually study in the same school throughout their primary and secondary education. Elementary schooling lasts for 4 years, middle school for 5 and high school for 3.
The objective of general schooling is to give younger students knowledge of the arts and sciences, and teach them how to use it practically.Bassis/Dhilawala (2009). Cultures of the World: Ukraine The middle school curriculum includes classes in the Ukrainian language, Ukrainian Literature, a foreign language, world literature, Ukrainian history, world history, geography, algebra, geometry, biology, chemistry, physics, physical education, music, and art. At some schools, students also take environment and civics classes. Students attend each class only once or twice a week. Part of the school day is also spent in activities such as chess, karate, drama, learning folktales and folk songs, choir, and band. After school, students might also have music lessons, football, hockey, or tennis.Kummer, Patricia K. (2001) Ukraine Enchantment of the World
During grades 9 and 12, which is usually around the age of 15 and 17, students take various exams. The current examination system is undergoing change. In grades 9 and 12 students take Independent Government Tests (IGTs), which allows eleventh graders to enter university without taking separate entrance exams. In 2008, entrance exams were abolished and the IGTs became the standard for determining entrance eligibility. However, the system was changed again in 2010.
In school year 2009-2010 potential graduates are scheduled to undergo external independent testing after the final state examination, in the following subjects: Ukrainian language and literature, history of Ukraine, mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry, geography, and one foreign language (of the pupil's choice) in either English, German, French, or Spanish. The results of the testing will have the same status as entrance examinations to institutions of higher education.School leavers to have external independent testing after state final examination, Kyiv Post (8 October 2009) But some universities can convert points in the external independent test certificate according to their own rating system.
Since 2018, pre-higher education now lasts for 12 years. This means all students who entered grade 1 in 2018 will graduate after completing grade 12; however this does not apply to students who have completed grade 1 prior to 2018.
Home schooling Educating children at home is legal in Ukraine and expressly allowed for in Articles 59 and 60 of Ukraine's Education Law.Home School Legal Defense Association: Ukraine , Home School Legal Defense Association
International Schools Meridian International School, Kyiv (est. 2001) Kyiv International School (est. 1992) French Lycee Anne of Kyiv (est. 1994) British International School, Ukraine (est.1997 Nivki, 2011 Pechersk, Dnipro) Pechersk School International Klovsky Lyceum № 77 (est. 1979)
University level (Post-secondary education)
Higher education is either state funded or private. Students who study at state expense receive a standard scholarship if their average marks at the end-of-term exams and differentiated test is at least 4 (see the 5-point grade system below); this rule may be different in some universities. In the case of all grades being the highest (5), the scholarship is increased by 25%. For most students the level of government subsidy is not sufficient to cover their basic living expenses. Most universities provide subsidized housing for out-of-city students. Also, it is common for libraries to supply required books for all registered students.
There are two degrees conferred by Ukrainian universities: the bachelor's degree (4 years) and the master's degree (5–6th year). These degrees are introduced in accordance with Bologna process, in which Ukraine is taking part. Historically, Specialist's Degree (usually 5 years) is still also granted; it was the only degree awarded by universities in the Soviet times. Almost all major universities are located in oblast centers.
Postgraduate level
Upon obtaining a master's degree or Specialist, a student may enter a university or a scientific institute to pursue postgraduate education. The first level of postgraduate education is aspirantura that usually results in the Kandydat Nauk degree (Candidate of Sciences). Candidates must pass three or more qualifying exams (one or more in the field of specialty, one in a foreign language of their choice and one in philosophy), publish at least five papers in peer-reviewed journals (according to requirements existed up to 2013 they had to publish at least three papers), write a dissertation and defend it. This degree is roughly equivalent to the Ph.D. in the United States.
After graduation a student may continue postgraduate education. This takes from two to four years of study in doctorantura. Significant scientific results must be obtained and published, and a new thesis written. This produces a Doctor Nauk degree (Doctor of Sciences), but the more typical way is working in a university or scientific institute with parallel preparation of a thesis. The average time between obtaining Kandidat and Doctor degrees is roughly 10 years, and most of new Doctors are 40 and more years old. Only one of four Kandidats reaches this grade. Kandidat Nauk may keep the position associate professor in universities, or Researcher/Senior Researcher in scientific institutes. Doctor Nauk can hold position of full Professor, Head of Laboratory or an equal/higher positions. The Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science is considering changing the Soviet style Kandidat Nauk and Doctor Nauk degrees to Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor Habilitation, as has happened in several other post-Soviet countries.
Marks
Ukraine has a 99.4 literacy rate. Ukrainian universities use a traditional 5-point scale: "5" = "excellent" "4" = "good" "3" = "satisfactory" "2" = "unsatisfactory". "5", "4", "3" can be described as "Passed", "2" - as "Fail".
Students who get a failing grade of "2", have two more chances to pass an examination.
Since 2006 (and even earlier in some universities), university students are graded on a rating scale of 0 to 100. These grades can be transformed to the 5-point scale approximately as follows (this system may vary a little from university to university and may change from time to time): from 90 to 100 means "5" —– A from 74 to 89 means "4" —— B, C from 60 to 73 means "3" —— D, E from 0 to 59 means "2" —— F Both the rating scale and the 5-point scale are used in university registers. Some lecturers prefer to use A-F-point scale to rate students during their passing the exams.
As for secondary schools, they also used the above-mentioned 5-point scale till 2000. Since 2000 secondary schools use a 12-point scale, which could be transformed into the traditional 5-point scale as follows: "12" = "5+" "11" = "5" "10" = "5-" "9" = "4+" "8" = "4" "7" = "4-" "6" = "3+" "5" = "3" "4" = "3-" "3" = "2+" "2" = "2" "1" = "2-" "0" = "2--" Here signs "+" and "-" denote respectively better and worse version of a mark, for example, "4-" means "somewhat worse than good". Mark "0" is very rarely given in Ukrainian schools (when student refuses to answer for question or doing any exam or task). This mark can be compared to "2--" (in Russia) and/or "F--" in the USA.
Languages used in Educational Establishments On 25 September 2017 a new law; the law "On Education" on education was signed by President Poroshenko (draft approved by Rada on 5 September 2017) which will make Ukrainian the language of education from the fifth grade on. The law makes exceptions for one or more subjects that are allowed to be taught in two or more languages, namely English or one of the other official languages of the European Union, and allows any languages to be taught as separate subjects. The 2017 law stipulated a three-year transitional period,Про освіту | від 05.09.2017 № 2145-VIII (Сторінка 1 з 7) later extended until 2023.