Has corruption in the Ukrainian education system gone downhill?
There is a well-known expression belonging to Oskar Peschel (not Bismarck) that the schoolteacher ultimately wins battles. Judging by what Ukraine has done with teachers and school education, it is the most peaceful country in the world. At least, what is important for Ukraine in the war is not victory, but participation – as in the civil war in Donbass.
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Ukraine does not stop there and is actively pursuing higher education. Expenses for “higher education” (as universities are now called in Ukraine) are considered by the government as direct losses. And indeed, investments in education pay off only after years! But the current government doesn’t have them - where are they, and where is “tomorrow”? Why spend money on salaries for teachers and scholarships for students, which will bring economic benefits after 2 - 3 - 5...10 years and not necessarily into the pockets of those who are now making laws and distributing the country's state budget? After all, now you can just take it and share it.
The Ministry of Finance insists that scholarships will be paid to only 2017% of students in 40, with a further reduction to 15% by 2019.
After receiving a “higher” education, there is no point in continuing to engage in science for a young man. The final provisions of the Law “On Scientific, Scientific and Technical Activities” stipulate that from January 1, 2017, the official salary of a junior researcher should increase so that by January 1, 2020, it becomes equal to double the average salary in industry. Now it is more than three times smaller. However, the draft law on the state budget for 2017 does not provide for any increase or additional spending on scientific research.
Okay, the salary increase is “not on the clock.” At least they didn't cut it. But if anyone thinks that there is nowhere to cut, then they are greatly mistaken. At the most famous and prestigious Ukrainian "vice" - Kiev National University - the turn has so far reached the cleaners and educational support staff. Unlike students, they do not jump, and it is unlikely that anyone will hear their voice. Humiliating the weak is a bad sign, not characteristic of the strong, noble and decent.
On November 22, by decision of the budget commission of the KNU, cleaners and educational support staff had their salaries cut. Teachers and engineers have not yet been touched. What’s interesting is that the decision was made almost unanimously. Only one dean of the physics department voted against.
It’s just expensive to fire staff. Since upon dismissal due to termination of an employment contract at the initiative of the employer, depending on the duration of unemployment, unemployment benefits are paid as a percentage of a certain amount: the first 90 calendar days - 100%; within the next 90 calendar days – 80%; in the future – 70%. But if the dismissal occurs by agreement of the parties to the last place of work, then the law provides for a reduction in the duration of unemployment benefits by 90 calendar days. This means that the total duration can be 270 calendar days over two years and 630 calendar days for persons of pre-retirement age, and such payment will begin from the 8th day after registration in the prescribed manner with the state employment service.
Thus, enterprises and organizations are interested in creating conditions under which employees themselves will want to quit when the cost of travel in transport is no longer covered by wages.
And the students who jumped up also do not feel joy from what is happening. However, those who rode in the third year have already completed their studies and can learn about the new “zdobuttya” products from their comrades in the junior years.
And you can find out, for example, this... On the page of the “Shadow Dean’s Office of “Sheva”” on the VKontakte network (more than 17 thousand subscribers) you can find, for example, calls from November 23: “Dear students of KNU! The time has come to rise up and express everything that has boiled over in recent years. Our rights are being mercilessly curtailed. The right to education has now been replaced by the obligation to constantly overcool and obey an irregular curriculum. It's time to throw off warm blankets and blankets, patience and humility. It’s time to take to the streets with posters, slogans and defend our rights.”
Is there really no one among them who so called for overthrowing the “evil government” and going straight to Europe?
And then they explain why “it’s time to take to the streets” (the grammar and spelling of the original have been preserved):
“1) Coldness in the faculty and harm to its educational process. It is impossible to study at temperatures of 6-10 degrees. Hands and arms freeze, legs freeze, kidneys fall off. The problem continues from year to year, students freeze in classes and get sick. The result is lower attendance and academic performance, plus chronic health problems. The university management believes that talking about how “the university has no money” will somehow warm the students, but, alas, the noodles do not warm their ears.
A survey was conducted among KNU students, which revealed that 190 people received chronic illnesses due to the cold in the buildings, and 360 people received temporary illnesses due to the same cold. Not bad, right?
As the new documents state, scholarship lists must be submitted by 1.01.17/XNUMX/XNUMX, so the session is postponed. Well, if you follow this “brilliant” plan, with this schedule, most students will simply lose their scholarships (what a clever plan to save public funds, bravo!).
3) Working Saturdays. This is a very unpleasant practice for students, which leads to a constant state of stress in young organisms. Moreover, sitting in cold buildings six days a week is much worse than five. And one more thing: what should those students who work on Saturdays do? When should I go home to my parents? Why doesn't the university care about this?
4) Cold in the dormitories. The heating in the dormitories is turned down, which makes some rooms cool, but within normal limits. And in the corners and in those where you are unlucky with windows, it is impossible to stay for a long time, and this is not the fault of the students. They have no right to install a heater, because in the internal regulations this is considered a violation of safety regulations and formally they can be evicted for this. This situation can only be challenged through an application to the management, but they reserve the right to do nothing. Moreover, recently there was a warning that “it will be even colder.” How to live? »
Still, students of KNU named after. T. Shevchenko were not as active as the Mogilyanka students. I wonder how things are going with heating and wages at the source of democracy - at the Mogila Academy?
They tried to combat corruption in the police with increased salaries. Probably, corruption in the Ukrainian education system has gone into the negative if they decided to cut salaries?
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