On July 17, 2018, a round table on "Education Reform and Language Issue: Subjects’ of Education Viewpoint" took place in Hertsa, Chernivtsi region, The event had been conducted by the Ukrainian Educational Researchers Association within the framework of the project "Facilitation of the Intercultural Dialogue on the Study of the Ukrainian Language by Representatives of National Minorities in Chernivtsi Region". This project is part of a wider project - "Promoting Reforms in the Regions", which is being implemented by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting and "Yevropeiska Pravda" with the assistance of the European Union and the International Fund “Renaissance”.
The project is connected with the Jean Monnet Support to Association Project "European Quality of Educational Research for Empowering Educators in Ukraine" supported by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission.
During the round table the following topecs had been discussed: the perception of the language article of the Law of Ukraine "On Education" by various subjects of education; causes of tension around the language issue and ways to reduce it; level of studying of Ukrainian and Romanian languages in secondary educational institutions of Hertza district; the influence of studying the Ukrainian language on the life expectancy of senior pupils, etc. Ways to overcome the problems and challenges facing the Ukrainian community today in terms of the adoption of the Law "On Education", the round table participants see in the dialogue with representatives of national minorities giving communities and schools the right to choose the language of instruction for children; providing representatives of national minorities with a wide range of opportunities to preserve their national identities and introduce different levels of EIT, depending on the life plans of graduates.
The discussion participants believe that the mastery of the Ukrainian language depends on the professional skills of the teacher, his ability to convey the material to the student, and the internal motivation of the students to learn the language.
The round table photo report: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1J7v0D1KvPlbVd7Ym9qSdZo2ZiHFGnoyQ The round table audio record can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i1YIVJMaP2vJk0zKdpAuKjXC6LY-4fv1/view