INTERNATIONAL FACTORS OF INFLUENCE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE SECONDARY EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The article presents some considerations on the processes of comprehensive secondary education reforms in Ukraine from the perspective of its integration into the European community. According to this political goal Ukraine should transform its social institutions towards the standards of the EU countries. It requires a series of reforms aimed to level up the educational standards, equal access to qualitative education, and curriculum development in accordance to the modern labor market. Education gains a diversified impact. Taking into the consideration different approaches to qualification of factors influencing the education policy formation and implementation from the standpoint of external relations of the state we identify a number of international factors of comprehensive secondary education development in Ukraine. Among them are the following: Political factors are determined by the specific political actions of Ukraine such as the course of Ukraine’s domestic and foreign policy in the process of its integration into the European Community, development of the regulations in accordance to the international legal acts. Economical factors reveal themselves in attraction of foreign funds and grants, scholarship and investment programs, in sponsorship in education, financial support of institutional partnership, etc. Institutional factors are characterized by expansion of international cooperation and partnership, scholarship programs, academic exchange programs, etc. Socio-psychological and ethical factors result from implementation of international exchanges and programs, improvement of pupils’ and teachers’ foreign language skills, possibility of participation in international events, etc. Demographic factors are determined by population migration abroad in search of work due to political events and social problems; families consisted of citizens from different countries, families living in 2-3 countries at the same time, bilingual families, etc. Environmental factors of Ukrainian reality (the state of the environment in Ukraine, consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, uncontrolled use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture, pollution of the atmosphere, etc.) require the preventive measures in education as well. We believe that the further study of international factors of influence on the comprehensive secondary education development will add to the formation of educational policy of Ukraine.