01 September 2011, 09:45
As a new academic year began, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Mykola Tomenko addressed the Head of the parliamentary Committee on Science and Education with a request to discuss reorganization (liquidation) of secondary educational establishments at the open session of the committee with the participation of the authorized representatives of the authorities.
The Deputy Chairman reminded of the recent media statements of the authorities concerning the policy of a balanced and legal approach to the reorganization (closure) of schools in Ukraine. He also reminded that the Minister of Education and Science, Youth and Sports of Ukraine stressed that functioning and development of the school network is in the competence of the local executive authorities and self-government bodies. However, statistical information proves the opposite.
M.Tomenko informed that for the past year and a half since February 2010 640 schools have been closed in Ukraine, while in 2003-2009, 870 schools were closed. The Deputy Chairman believes that such figures speak for the irresponsible optimization of schools in contravention of the laws of Ukraine "On Education", "On Secondary Education", and "On Local Self-Government."
M.Tomenko stressed that children have a constitutional right for a full comprehensive secondary education. He asked the committee chairman to discuss reorganization (liquidation) of secondary educational establishments at the open session of the committee with the participation of the authorized representatives of the authorities.