The Standing
Commission for Science and
Education of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the
Commonwealth of Independent States was founded at the initiative of The
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in October 1999 to provide effective use of the
intellectual potential of CIS member-states, and harmonize the laws on science
and education in these countries.
The Commission deals with the state policy in the sphere of science and education; legal support of educational and research establishments; international cooperation in the field of science and education; formation of a single educational space of the CIS; implementation of the international legal provisions on science and education; personnel training.
The Commission develops model laws and resolutions to harmonize domestic laws within the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Commission has drafted 25 model legislative acts adopted by the Assembly, which makes up the basis of model legislation on education, science and innovations.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has developed the model laws "On Comprehensive Secondary Education", "On Pre-School Education", "On Out-of-School Education", "On Scientific and Research Activity", "On Protection of Rights for Scientific Discoveries", and the bill "On Rationalization Activity."
Model legislative acts or particular provisions adopted at the initiative of the Commission are implemented in the law-making activity of the parliaments of CIS member-states. The Commission is permanently monitoring the application of model laws in the law-making of all parliaments. The Commission also analyzes implementation of model laws.
Opening the sitting, Head of the Standing Commission K.Samoilyk stated that representatives of the national parliaments of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Ukraine took part in the meeting.
First Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada Adam Martyniuk welcomed the attendees. He stated that Ukraine was interested in the development of bilateral relations with its neighbours and partners in the post-Soviet space.
A. Martyniuk stated that Ukraine was joining the bodies of sectoral cooperation of the CIS. Thus far, Ukraine is going to join the council of humanitarian cooperation and the inter-state fund of humanitarian cooperation.
"This process in neither easy nor instantaneous, as the fundamental agreement on humanitarian cooperation should come into force. However, we are planning to finalize the required procedures as soon as possible, while Ukraine will host the 6th forum of creative and scholarly intellectuals of CIS member-states," stressed A. Martyniuk.
He also informed that Ukraine initiated hosting several cultural and artistic events.
Minister of Education and Science,
Youth and Sports Dmytro Tabachnyk stated, "Ukrainian Government completely
supports the ideas generated by the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly." "Owing to
the changes in humanization and democratization of higher education, the number
of foreign students has considerably grown. We allowed universities to choose
the language of teaching, which increased the number of foreign students by 3
thousand for one academic year only," he stated.
D.Tabachnyk informed that Ukraine had more than 48 thousand foreign students. The Minister also stressed that the Ministry was closely cooperating with the subject Committee on Science and Education. He also outlined four basic areas of the education reforms.
The first area is information system development in schools supported by the nation-wide project "Open World." The second area is extension of pre-school education. The third priority is development of vocational education and personnel training. The fourth area is reforms of higher education.
The participants scrutinized the bills on distance learning in CIS member-countries; on rationalisation activity; on public expertise; on personnel training; Draft Declaration on Ethic Principles of Research activity; IPA CIS Draft Resolution on Legal Support of Education System Reformation in CIS member-countries.
The members of the Standing Commission debated celebration of the 300th anniversary of V.M. Lomonosov; 100th anniversary of L.M. Humiliov; 50th anniversary of V.I.Vernadskyi.
The members of the Standing Commission will also visit the National Technical University of Ukraine "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute" to familiarize themselves with the research of the scientific park, as the Commission should draft the bill on scientific parks and research universities.