DIDACTIC POTENTIAL OF SPECIALISED SECONDARY EDUCATION IN UKRAINE IN THE CONTEXT OF EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE

Abstract

The article analyses the didactic potential of specialised secondary education in Ukraine in the context of the experience of European countries. An overview of specialised secondary education in most countries of the European Union is provided. It is stated that high school education in the countries of the world can be built according to two models: flexible, elective or rigid, selective. It is determined that in recent years the trend in global secondary education has been the integration of general and vocational education. Specialised education has long been a common practice in most European countries. All developed countries agree that the introduction of a specialised school enables high school students to choose their future profession and prepares them for further work or study or even employment. Each country has its own peculiarities, but the dominant feature is the opportunity for students to choose their own study profile and subjects. The article highlights the possibilities of a competence-based approach to building specialised education in most European countries. The didactic potential of specialised secondary education in Ukraine is outlined. It is generalised that the basis for the formation of educational profiles is the relevant educational fields. The educational programmes of specialised secondary education in both (academic and vocational) areas contain compulsory educational components, the model curricula/curricula of which fully cover the main learning outcomes (benchmarks for assessment). Requirements for mandatory learning outcomes are determined on the basis of a competency-based approach. Educational profiles are formed by educational institutions through the choice made by students based on an analysis of their own needs, readiness, preferences and interests with the assistance of the pedagogical community, which forms appropriate proposals for the content, approaches and methods of organising the educational process, driven by its vision and capacity, expectations of parents and communities, requests of the founders and public priorities. The introduction of specialised education in high school brings Ukrainian students closer to world educational standards, gives impetus to the formation of a successful life strategy and self-determination.