The number of schools in the country every year becomes less and less. Do I have to reduce educational institution and how it will affect education, understood the site “Today”.
Students more
For this school year will go to school 408 thousand first-graders, or 15 thousand children more than last year. But despite this, the number of secondary schools in Ukraine continues to decline rapidly.
According to the State statistics service, the peak number of schools had at the end of the 90s: then, on the territory of the country operated more than 22 thousand then the situation has changed: kids became less and schools began to close. Already in 2016 there were only 16.9 thousand schools. But this year there will be less than the 162 institution.
Vacant schools and financial costs
Typically schools are closed in rural areas. Children there is not enough, and in classes very often only 5-7 students. According to the Ministry of education, in 2016 in Ukraine operated 613 schools of I-II stages (grades 1-9), in which less than 25 children. Because of this, the maintenance of one student spent far more than the average norm.
“Closing rural schools and it is absolutely justified. Moreover, the rate of closing is much slower than it should be. In Ukraine two-thirds of schools in rural areas. The average size of rural schools in Ukraine – 100 children and 40% of rural schools I-III stages of at least 100 students,” explains Irina Kogut, expert educational direction in the analytical center “Cedos”.
The expert noted that studying in rural schools is quite problematic, there is not enough technical equipment and experts of different subjects. The teachers there teach several disciplines, although not always have training in each of them.
The Ministry of education believe that in the current situation it is impossible to ensure equal access of all pupils to education. Therefore, small schools closed, and instead creating strong schools. This is a basic educational institution in areas where transferred students after grade 4 of the remote villages. On August 1 this year there were 338 schools and 744 branches.
The prospects for the reorganization of schools
In the modern realities of rural schools is very difficult to survive, and to give students a quality and competitive education.
“The trend is such that the villages, which are so small schools will continue to decrease. Because there is simply no work and people leave to earn money. Respectively of children of preschool age there is little. So after some 5-10 years, these schools have simply disappeared,” said Iryna Kohut.
To solve this problem and have begun to establish supporting schools where children are delivered by bus. The program “School bus” has been around for over 10 years and is still funded by the state. In 2016 has been allocated 600 million UAH for the purchase of school buses, even as many had to give from local budgets.
Despite the fact that children will have to go to school much longer, experts believe that the inconvenience is justified. Because of the support the school can provide pupils with the required socialization, access to the various mugs on interests and quality education. Following the testing, you notice that students from rural schools pass the tests is much worse than students from urban schools.
“In fact, these small rural schools should disappear as a class. This positive effect on the quality of education and give the possibility and money that is now spend on the maintenance of half-empty school buildings. Such schools should be reorganized to leave primary education and kindergarten in the same room. Little children do not have to go anywhere, and children from the fifth grade to send to study in supporting schools,” says Irina Kogut.
As the Ministry of education, and experts believe that the number of small rural schools still should be reduced. They should reorganize and replace support schools to improve the standard of education in the country.
