Minister Tabachnyk Expects Legislation on Higher Education to be Ratified in the First Half of 2012

Tuesday, 27 December 2011

"I think that this will be done in the first half of 2012.  It should take effect as soon as it is ratified; the financial aspects will be addressed when the new budget is prepared and will gain force when the 2013 budget is ratified," said the Minister during an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

According to Tabachnyk the Council of Europe's Committee on Education and Science was pleased with the final draft of the Ukrainian legislation on higher education.

The Minister also noted that all contentious points had already been removed.

Tabachnyk asserted that it is absolutely necessary to stop Parliament from reducing the number of full government scholarships which 51% of students currently receive.

The legislation requires student stipends to be no less than the minimum standard of living rates and that the costs of education for tuition paying students remain consistent throughout their course of study.

According to Mr. Tabachnyk, there are a number of articles which allow the autonomy of HEIs to be expanded.  The legislation foresees that Ukrainian degrees will comply with the European system: Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D.

"And we will keep the unique Ukrainian degree of Young Specialist-so that we don't destroy HEIs with level I and II accreditation," noted the Minister.

Additionally, Mr. Tabachnyk notes that external independent testing, which hopeful graduates undergo, will be legalized.  "Currently there is no legal basis that requires students to undergo EIT," emphasized Mr. Tabachnyk.

The Minister of Education also noted that the bill's authors applied international standards to many points in the bill.

Ukrayinska Pravda, Life