01 June 2009, 14:31
Mykola Tomenko: It is groundless to substitute the teaching of the History of Ukraine with the History of Ukrainian Culture at the Higher Education Establishments
Mykola Tomenko, Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, deems groundless to substitute the teaching of the history of Ukraine with the history of Ukrainian culture at the higher education establishments.
According to Mykola Tomenko, an extended final sitting of the board of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine was held on 2 April 2009. In his speech, Ivan Vakarchuk, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, stated that on 28 February, the board of the Ministry of Education and Science ratified new approaches to the teaching of historical disciplines, as well as amendments to the effective program on teaching history, pursuant to which the mandatory course "History of Ukraine" is substituted for a new one "History of Ukrainian Culture".
M.Tomenko is convinced that teaching of history as a mandatory course at all the higher education establishments is of great importance for the formation of a patriotic and conscious young personality.
"I believe that the said resolution of the board of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is hasty. The issue concerning teaching of historical disciplines is too significant to be settled only by the board of the Ministry", - believes M.Tomenko.
The Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine forwarded an appeal to the Prime Minister of Ukraine with a request to suspend the said resolution and hold an expert council concerning amendments suggested with the attraction of scientists of the National Academy of Sciences, representatives of higher education establishments.