Suggestions for the schedule of the implementation of Article 7 The Language of Instruction of the Law on Education

Pallagi Marianna News

To Lilia Hrynevych
Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine

Suggestions for the schedule of the implementation of
Article 7 The Language of Instruction of the Law on Education

Main steps Suggested deadline Institutions responsible for the implementation*
1.      step: the legal background
1. On the modification of Article 7 The Language of Instruction of the Law on Education:
on the reconciliation of the Law on Education with the following legislation-                    The Constitution of Ukraine (articles 8, 10, 22, 24, 53, 119)

Ukraine’s agreements and legislation in accordance with international law:

o Declaration on the Rights of Nationalities in Ukraine, 1991.;

o The Law of Ukraine „On National Minorities in Ukraine”;

o The Law of Ukraine „On The Principles of State Language Policy”.

o European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages;

o Declaration on the rights of individuals belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities;

o Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
o Document of the Copenhagen Human Dimension Summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and PACE Recommendation 1201
o Declaration on the Principles of Co-operation between the Ukrainian USSR and the Hungarian Republic and the Protection of the Rights of National Minorities

 In 2018
2.      step Providing the conditions for the quality education of the Ukrainian language in primary and secondary schools with minority language of instruction (educational environment)
2.7. The development of standards of the education of the state language (as non-native) for educational institutions with minority language of instruction in accordance with Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment), as well as the determination of the expected level of knowledge by the end of the 4th, 9th, and 11th grade taking the differences between the state language and the minority language into account. by the end of 2018
2.8. In order to ensure that the Ukrainian language (as a state language and as a foreign language) is taught effectively in Transcarpathian Hungarian secondary schools, the following steps should be taken:
2.8.1. The development of a state standard for the education of the state language as a foreign one for all educational levels (elementary, primary, and secondary) for Hungarian-speaking Ukrainian citizens in accordance with Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment).
Suggested requirements:
by the end of the elementary school (4th grade) –  level A1,
by the end of primary school (9th grade) – level A2,
by the end of secondary school (11th grade) – level B1.		 by the end of 2018
2.8.2. The development of a language exam system, which will assess the knowledge levels of the secondary school graduates and adults in accordance with
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment in four categories: speech comprehension, speaking skills, reading and writing.		 a 2018-2019  the academic year by the end of
2.8.3. Before introducing Ukrainian language and literature graduation tests, it is important to separately define the minimum scores for students of minority language schools for whom the Ukrainian language is not the native language. From 2019
2.8.4.

Based on this state standard, we recommend the curriculum for teaching Ukrainian as a state language (non-native language) for the Hungarian schools / classes.

(In order to develop the conditions for differentiated language teaching, 3 alternative (local) curricula should be developed based on the sample curriculum:
a) for schools in a Hungarian language environment,

b) for schools in a mixed environment,

(c) for schools in a Ukrainian-speaking environment.)

 by the end of the academic year 2018-2019
2.8.5.

On the basis of the curricula, for each of the three alternative plans, 3 textbook packages are required (for grades 1-4 classes, 5-9, and 10-12).

For the development of the textbooks the necessary teaching methodological materials, workbooks, illustrative materials (including audio material), school dictionaries (both in printed and digital form, with the option of installing on a tablet on a PC and a smartphone) should be provided.

 

 Academic year 2019-2020
3.      step. Creating additional conditions for the quality education of the Ukrainian language for students of national minority schools
3.3. Development of online educational materials: Ukrainian for Hungarians (beginner’s and intermediate level).
Development of an online curriculum in Ukrainian As A State/Non-Native Language based on Hungarian.		 By 2020
3.4. Development of an educational application called Ukrainian As A State/Non-Native Language based on Hungarian for tablet PCs and smartphones. By 2020
3.5. Edition and publication of a new Ukrainian-Hungarian and Hungarian-Ukrainian academic dictionary in printed and electronic format. By 2020
3.6. Publication of Ukrainian functional descriptive grammar both in Ukrainian and Hungarian. By 2020
3.7. Publication of a Ukrainian-Hungarian comparative grammar both in Ukrainian and Hungarian. By 2020
4.      step. Training for teachers who work in educational institutions with minority language of instruction.
4.5. Training for teachers who work in educational institutions with Hungarian language of instruction according to new curricula and standards. From the academic year 2020-2021
4.6. The development of a new pedagogical specialization called “Ukrainian teacher in a minority school” and the start of a training in this field. From 2019
7.  step. Preservation of the national identity of communities forming an integral part of Ukrainian society
7.1. Within the framework of special legislation, we propose the development of legislation to preserve the network of institutions teaching ​​in national minority languages at all levels of education. When adopting relevant legislation
7.1.1. We must ensure the implementation of the proposals of the Venice Commission:
Private educational institutions providing high school education from funding provided by natural or legal entities are free to choose the language of instruction.		 by the end of 2018
7.1.2. In order to avoid the negative discrimination of students studying in minority language schools/classes, the curricula used in the schools/classes with a minority language of instruction should separate the hours for studying native language and literature from the ones for foreign languages, as the native language of students belonging to national minorities is different from the state language, but for the it is not a foreign language, so it can not be classified as foreign language teaching. From the academic year 2018-2019
7.2.

State standards should reflect the historical and cultural heritage of national minorities.

It must be ensured that the education of national minorities’ historical and cultural heritage be present in the educational process in all languages of instruction, with particular reference to the following groups of subjects: civilian and historical, social sciences, linguistic and literary at all educational levels.

 From the academic year 2018-2019
7.10. In order to preserve the identity of national minorities, the variant component of the curriculum should contain:
7.10.1 an ethnography curriculum for minority language schools / classes, grades 3-4 in one lesson per week by the end of 2018
7.10.2. A curriculum in „state studies” for minority language schools / classes, grades 5-6 in one lesson per week by the end of 2018
7.10.3. A curriculum in the history of the particular minority nation for minority language schools / classes, grades 7-9 in one lesson per week by the end of 2018
7.11. In order to preserve the identity of national minorities, the necessary textbooks should be developed for the following subjects in the variant component of the curriculum:
7.11.1. ethnography for minority language schools / classes, grades 3-4 In 2019
7.11.2. „state studies” for minority language schools / classes, grades 5-6 In 2020
7.11.3. history of the particular minority nation for minority language schools / classes, grades 7-9 In 2020
7.12. In order to ensure the appropriate acquisition of academic terminology in the given minority language and to ensure equal access to education for all students of the educational institutions, a quality translation of the tests of the External Independent Knowledge Level Assessment should be made in all subjects except Ukrainian language and literature and foreign languages. Constantly
7.13. Regardless of the student’s language of instruction, it is necessary to ensure the free choice of the language of the knowledge assessment when the application is made. Constantly
7.14. In order to ensure equal access to education and the appropriate quality education of the given minority language and literature and to properly rank the graduates applying to institutions of  higher education, the subjects of the External Independent Knowledge Level Assessment must include national minority languages and literatures. From the academic year 2018-2019

*– individuals, organizations, departments, institutions within the Ministry of Science and Education, other institutions, ministries and/or the Supreme Council of Ukraine responsible for the implementation of the steps listed in the schedule for implementing of Article 7 “The Language of Instruction” of the Law On Education must be appointed.

Berehove, July 09, 2018

László Brenzovics,
Chairman of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association

László Zubánics,
Chairman of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Ukraine

Ildikó Orosz,
Chairman of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Pedagogical Association