The key conditions for the successful development of Ukrainian education are the development of the necessary infrastructure, provision of human resources, motivation of students and its topical content that meets the needs of the modern world. This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a speech at the All-Ukrainian Forum "Ukraine 30. Education and Science" in Kyiv.
The President noted that the topic of education is a priority because it concerns the upbringing and formation of the next generations of Ukrainians who will build the country in the future.
"A country that strives to be competitive in today's world must define education and science as its strategic areas. After all, the development of a democratic, successful, active society, the development of any spheres - security and defense, always relevant economy, medicine, industry, IT or agriculture - all this is impossible without well-educated, erudite, creative citizens," said the President of Ukraine.
He noted that the training of people with new thinking should begin not at the age of 17-18 at the university, but almost from birth.
"That is why today our priority is the development of each level of education: preschool, primary, basic, vocational, higher education and further education of an adult throughout his life. And in each of them, the state must provide several important, key conditions necessary for success," the President said.
The first condition, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is the development of infrastructure. Thus, since 2019, more than 150 schools and more than 100 kindergartens across the country have been repaired and built under the Large Construction program, and there are plans to increase this number to more than two hundred by the end of the year.
The provision of high-speed Internet and comfortable school buses for rural areas is also an important aspect, the Head of State noted.
This also concerns state programs for the revival of vocational education and the restoration and development of student dormitories.
“High-quality educational infrastructure includes modern classrooms, sports grounds and swimming pools, canteens and laboratories. Living conditions, which are united on the basis of the main principle: accessible, safe, comfortable and - very importantly - barrier-free, educational space," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The second important condition, he said, concerns human resources.
"Employees of education and science, no matter whether they are a kindergarten teacher, a school teacher, a university lecturer or a researcher, must have a high level of qualification, good motivation, decent working and financial conditions, opportunities for development and personal growth," the Head of State noted.
The President reminded that salaries for Ukrainian educators have been raised this year.
"But we can't stop here. We need to find new mechanisms and means for them to feel the prestige of their profession and for the younger generation to have a desire to work in educational institutions. We must fight for Ukrainian scientists, provide a scientific and technical base for research. We must actively implement their discoveries and innovations in real life, promote their participation in international projects and strengthen their authority in the global scientific community," the President stressed.
The third condition, according to the Head of State, is happy and motivated students. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that this year presidential scholarships were introduced for the best students according to the results of the external independent evaluation, winners of all-Ukrainian and international Olympiads, as well as presidential grants for study abroad.
"The state should actively encourage the success of the best pupils and students, provide open access and opportunities for individual learning throughout life," he said.
The fourth condition is the content of education - it should not only provide knowledge, but also develop important skills of leadership, self-development, creative thinking, financial, digital, information literacy, which are crucial for a person nowadays.
"I believe that in the future we will be able to implement the main formula for successful Ukrainian education and science: our happy educators and teachers, happy lecturers and scientists, happy children, happy parents. And a happy Ukraine," Volodymyr Zelenskyy summed up.