Ukraine Introduces "Offline School" Strategy to Bring Students Back to Face-to-Face Education
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Loading... - Albert Stewart
- 01 Aug 2024
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From September 1, Ukrainian schoolchildren will embark on a new learning journey as the government launches the "Offline School" strategy, aimed at bringing students back to face-to-face education. This initiative comes after four years of losses in the Ukrainian education system due to COVID-19 and the ongoing war.
The Current State of Education in Ukraine
According to the government, Ukrainian children are currently two years behind their peers from other countries, as revealed by the PISA-2022 study. Over 600,000 children in Ukraine are studying remotely, while another 390,000 are studying abroad.
The Need for Change
Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov emphasized that online education has its limitations, including the lack of socialization and soft skill development. Moreover, during blackouts, children cannot continue to study, and it is impossible to control whether students go down to the shelter during distance learning.
The "Offline School" Strategy
The new strategy aims to return 300,000 pupils to safe face-to-face education, with a focus on improving the quality of distance learning where face-to-face learning is not possible. The project has five main components:
1. Internally Displaced Children: Face-to-face education will be provided at their place of residence, subject to security conditions.
2. Children Abroad: The double workload will be removed, and pupils will study remotely only subjects with a Ukrainian studies component. Points will be re-credited from foreign schools for other disciplines.
3. Children from Temporarily Occupied and Frontline Territories: Education will be adapted to the demand and conditions of pupils with VOT (Victims of War). Children will be taught individually, adjusting to their needs and schedule.
4. Infrastructure Development: Shelters will be built, buses will be purchased, and devices will be provided to support the return to face-to-face education.
5. Teacher Employment: No teacher will lose their job. The Ministry of Education and Science (MES) will provide the opportunity to move to the personnel reserve, where teachers will receive an average salary and specialized training. From the reserve, teachers can transfer to another school or have a guaranteed job in the de-occupied territory.
The Ukrainian government is committed to bringing students back to offline learning, ensuring that they receive a quality education and develop essential social skills.
