Publication date: 03.06.2024
Lawyer, graduated from the National University "Odesa Law Academy" with honors. Since 2017, I have been specializing in legal and educational and general legal issues. I am the author of legal articles, scientific publications and articles in the educational environment. Mentor of the "Veritas" legal clinic. The owner of the legal blog "Educational_law_ua" on Instagram.
In the context of reforming the Ukrainian education system, the issues of optimizing schools and introducing profiling education become particularly relevant. The Law of Ukraine "On Education" of 2017, as well as new regulatory acts accompanying its implementation, significantly change the structure and functioning of educational institutions, orienting them towards new standards and requirements.
School Optimization: Essence and Tasks
The optimization of schools involves a range of measures aimed at increasing the efficiency and quality of education, rational use of resources, and ensuring equal access to education for all students. The main aspects of optimization include:
Consolidation of educational institutions. This entails the merging of small schools into larger educational centers, allowing the concentration of resources and ensuring a higher quality of education.
Rational use of material and technical resources. Optimization aims to utilize school premises, equipment, and other resources more efficiently, reducing costs and improving the quality of the educational process.
Ensuring transportation accessibility. Due to the consolidation of educational institutions, it is important to organize safe and convenient transportation for students to schools.
Improving the quality of education. Optimization allows concentrating the best teaching staff and creating conditions for the implementation of modern teaching methods, which directly affects the quality of education.
Involving the community in school governance. New legislation envisages active participation of communities in the optimization process, promoting transparency and considering local specificities and needs.
Profiling Education: New Approaches and Perspectives
Profiling education is an important component of the reform aimed at preparing students for professional activities and further learning. The main provisions regarding profiling education are reflected in the Law of Ukraine "On Full General Secondary Education," adopted in 2020. The main aspects of profiling education include:
Choice of learning profile. Senior students have the opportunity to choose a learning profile according to their interests, abilities, and professional plans. This could be humanities, natural sciences, technology, or other profiles.
Individual educational trajectories. The law provides for the development of individual educational plans, allowing students to delve deeper into subjects related to their chosen profile.
Collaboration with vocational education institutions and businesses. Profiling education involves close cooperation between schools, vocational schools, colleges, and enterprises, allowing students to gain practical skills and insights into their chosen profession.
Modernization of educational programs. Curricula are reviewed and adapted to the requirements of the modern labor market, which contributes to the competitiveness of graduates.
Teacher professional development. Implementing profiling education requires training teachers capable of teaching subjects at an advanced level and using modern teaching methodologies.
Legal Aspects of Optimization and Profiling Education
The implementation of school optimization and profiling education is accompanied by certain legal challenges. The main legal aspects include:
Normative-legal regulation. New laws and by-laws establish rules and procedures regulating the process of optimization and introduction of profiling education. Harmonizing these acts with other educational regulations is important.
Legal support for the optimization process. When merging schools, closing small educational institutions, and changing the school network, it is necessary to comply with the legislation regarding the protection of the rights of students, educational staff, and other stakeholders.
Protection of participants' rights in the educational process. New learning conditions should ensure equal opportunities for all students, including children with special educational needs, and guarantee the right to choose an educational profile.
Financial-legal issues. The implementation of optimization measures and the introduction of profiling education require significant financial resources. The legislation provides mechanisms for financing these processes, including through state and local budgets, as well as attracting investors and grant programs.
Community involvement and transparency of processes. The legislation establishes mechanisms for involving communities in decision-making regarding school optimization and profiling, which enhances trust and ensures transparency of processes.
Conclusions
This written consultation and legal analysis of the situation suggests that the optimization of schools and the introduction of specialized education are key aspects of reforming the Ukrainian education system, which involves improving the quality of education, rational use of resources, and preparing students for modern labor market requirements. The legislative changes that accompany these processes are aimed at creating conditions for the effective implementation of reforms, ensuring the rights of participants in the educational process, and involving the public in school management. The analysis of the documents determines that the implementation of these innovations requires concerted actions on the part of state bodies, educational institutions, teaching staff and the community, which will allow to achieve the set goals and increase the competitiveness of Ukrainian education at the international level. So, if you need legal advice or the help of a lawyer online, use the "Consultant" UM service, whose experts are knowledgeable about these problematic issues.
