The Finance Ministry proposes to tighten the requirements for the scholars and share academic and social scholarships. The first will get honors and those who demonstrated special achievements and the second to those who need financial assistance. Now in Ukraine scholarships, almost half of all students. Next year the number fellows want to cut that to 25%, and in 2020 – up to 15%. Thus, the number of students with scholarship will be reduced three times. However, proportionally increase the size of payments.
The Ministry of Finance and students: what’s not to like officials in the current system
Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Marchenko last year came up with the idea to revise the approach for the assignment of scholarships. Then in order to receive financial support from the state in the form of scholarships, it was enough to have a 4.0 average, one of the five “covers” one of the top three. 75% of state employees (45% of the total number of students) this requirement is fulfilled. This year switched to a rating system that make up the universities.
Recently Marchenko said in an interview “warmed up” the issue of reducing the number of recipients. According to officials, the number of such students will be reduced from 45% to 15%. Given that the budget cut plan, the payouts will increase significantly.
Photo: archive
Now, believe in the Ministry of Finance, scholarships encourage students to learn better money to pay the absolute majority of state employees. This “European practice”, according to officials, provides for a clear division. Some students receive social grants, because they really need them, and the other receives money for successful study.
Agree with this approach and the Ministry of education. “We think the conditions for receiving academic scholarships should be more stringent. Today it is given to everyone with the Troika. We believe that only those who study well, needs to obtain academic scholarships” – announced the Minister of education Liliya Hrynevych last year.
“Do you need to change the current system. But we must clearly develop a position – to whom and why is the scholarship. Then we can discuss” – said the expert.
With the position of officials agrees and the part of the expert community. The expert of the Reanimation package of reforms Vladimir Bakhrushin sure to change the current system is really needed, however, before innovation, you need to clearly define why you need the scholarship and to whom they rely. “Really, you need to change the current system. But we must clearly develop a position – to whom and why is the scholarship. Then we can discuss” – said the expert.
How to change the size of the scholarship
“We are keen to increase the size of the stimulating academic scholarships,” said Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Groisman. Gradually, as estimated by the Ministry of Finance, the bursary will be able to make it to minimum wage. Next year, when the number of beneficiaries will be reduced to 25%, the payout will rise to 1700 UAH (at the moment the minimum academic scholarship – 1100 hryvnia).
Photo: archive
And in 2020, students will receive 3 723 UAH. Tripling the scholarship plan to achieve through the triple reduction in the number of students with scholarships. “We can get out of the subsistence level (in 2018 it is planned at the level of 1700 UAH – ed.) and closer to the minimum wage (2018 3,723 thousand hryvnia – ed.). That is, the level must be sufficient to ensure that this scholarship was enough to have the opportunity to live comfortably,” – said Sergey Marchenko.
“We can get out of the subsistence level (in 2018 it is planned at the level of 1700 UAH – ed.) and closer to the minimum wage (2018 3,723 thousand hryvnia – ed.). That is, the level must be sufficient to ensure that this scholarship was enough to have the opportunity to live comfortably,” – said Sergey Marchenko.
According to the representative of the Center for economic strategies Mary Repko, Ukraine the percentage of spending on higher education is on average 40% more than the European Union. While capital expenditure (innovation, equipment) in the Ukrainian education is allocated in a percentage ratio much less funds: the money goes on salaries, scholarships and the maintenance of the premises. People with higher education becomes more, but, says the expert on productivity and GDP is not displayed. Moreover, according to the expert, from-for demographic crisis in the 90s at the moment of high school graduates is becoming less every year. According to various estimates, up to 80% of the graduates of the years 2017-2020 have the opportunity to enter the universities.”
