Civil society in Ukraine: instead of uniting field experts, NGOs play in "reforms" bringing no result to the country that struggles to #StopRussianAggression. Meanwhile President Poroshenko seems to be using this weak point to protect his own & his business partners' interests.Most Ukrainian NGOs exist in their own ecosphere completely closed for the field professionals. Those NGOs create panel discussions, organise round tables - but their efforts are meaningless while there is no initiative to implement their groundwork.
Uqraine.com expert has visited event by the Ukrainian Institute for the Future - Education as the way to the National Security (https://www.facebook.com/events/1877448039238594/).
The main issue that was planned to be touched upon - in what way national system of education caters to / is dependent on / relates to the national security.
The event was to be held for 2 hours. The discussion moderator clearly asked speakers to be brief, to make 3-4 minutes presentations. Of course, it did nit work the planned way, and they consumed more that 1.5 hours. The trick was that the event was supposed to be interactive - the guests were eager to ask questions and to share their own ideas. The registration list was full of real scholars - university lecturers and professors that daily work on preparing next generation.
All in all, the questions-answers section lasted for 25 minutes. Less than 10 people were able to say a few words; out of those only one real research fellow was given a word. No doubt, his 2-minute speech was of more value than the whole optimistic NGO crowd mere words. His message was clear: "Education is dead. There is no point in working out cosmetic changes, it needs radical revamp, a fresh start. It is huge embarrassment that the board speakers were unable to respect the audience and to be concise. Moreover, their statements were communist in their nature and style". He draw applause of one third of the guests. It was clear at that point those were real representatives of the education domain. The reformers were sullen.
Issues that urge for deep concern were regarded only superficially. Instead of offering thoughts on elaborating better education system, the speakers dwelt upon their success stories. The audience admired OSVITORIA's story: they created a private school to offer comprehensive teaching. If only the did not forget to say that 1 academic year in their school costs $9,000-12,000 - in a country where average yearly salary is close to $2,000. Teachers of English simply adore GoCamps by GoGlobal Ukraine initiative. Why prepare specialists in Ukraine if one can order one from abroad? Who cares whether camp tutors are native English speakers, have crazy accent or lack proper education? Extra-curricular activities are always great, but this initiative is widely presented as only chance for Ukrainian children to learn English due to incompetence of their school teachers - and ti is wrong.
A civil servant told that there are over 200 institutes and universities in Ukraine, but less than 100 in France, so Ukraine has to get rid of spare educational establishments. It is a right thought, but the motivation is wrong: for instance, there 380 or even 450 institutes and universities in Germany, and they do not plan to close 300 of them.
So once again we met the case of great simulation. One of the speakers used the words "we will teach those teachers how to teach!". No, you won't. The teachers know how to teach. But they cannot teach in a class of 36 school students being paid $150/month. Some 25-30 y.o. NGO chiefs have $1,000-2,000/month, 10 times more the average.
Another wording was "I am interested in education". And Uqraine.com experts work in education. So as any other teacher we prefer to ignore advice-giving talking heads offering reforms for the sake of reforms without listening to the teaching community.
Another wording was "I am interested in education". And Uqraine.com experts work in education. So as any other teacher we prefer to ignore advice-giving talking heads offering reforms for the sake of reforms without listening to the teaching community.
Some facts are to be remembered: most students that study abroad do not come back to Ukraine; Poland welcomes Ukrainian students, most of them will stay there as Polish market is to so many jobs that 700,000 openings will not be answered by Poles; 70% of Ukrainian school leavers continue their studies at universities.
Was the event time wasted? Yes. Most speakers were irrelevant to the declared topic and inapt to provide any insight.
P.S. Uqraine.com supported the Ukrainian Institute for Future at its start - by public endorsement within its capability. At that time we believed it might become a stronghold for devising future prospects - as they declared. Since then their dubious funding and cooperation with notorious MPs turned aside many experts - but their strong social networks propagation and invited guest speakers pool managed to attract attention of mass audience. We publish this piece of criticism in order to help the Ukrainian Institute for the Future to perfect its research and work; we know that conflict-avoiding Ukrainian NGOs will not dare to provide any sound criticism.
We do hope that Professional Government Association of Ukraine (http://www.pgaukraine.org/) will be able to show good results as their project seems to be viable. Yet if they do not listen to the field professionals they are doomed. Although their elitist approach of engaging only youth educated abroad is already questionable.
Follow analytics on Putin's war in Europe & Kyiv Government reforms from Uqraine.com, independent non-partisan self-funding think tank.
Follow analytics on Putin's war in Europe & Kyiv Government reforms from Uqraine.com, independent non-partisan self-funding think tank.
