We have to protect the chances for the development of education and science, and for this we need to preserve the key budget programs – the position of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Parliamentary Committee on the budget sequestration

The Ministry of Education and Science and the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science and Innovation understand all the critical situation in the country due to the spread of acute respiratory illness COVID-19, but oppose the proposals of the Ministry of Finance, which provide for the full curtailment of development programs and science.

This is stated in a joint letter of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Parliamentary Committee of the Verkhovna Rada, sent to the CMU on March 27, 2020.

Thus, the Ministry of Finance proposes to reduce the total amount of financing of education and science by almost UAH 5,8 billion. This amount includes all education and science development programs, including the NUS subsidy, grant funding for science through the National Research Fund, basic science funding at universities, and other areas for supporting education and science transformations.

In an annex to the letter, the MES and the profile committee are demanding to keep at least UAH 1.7 billion out of the UAH 5.8 billion proposed for the Ministry of Finance to develop the program at least.

Among them is a grant funding program for research through the National Research Foundation. In total, its amount is UAH 500,5 million, of which the Ministry of Finance proposes to withdraw UAH 500,3 million. The position of the Verkhovna Rada Committee and the Ministry of Education and Science is to maintain the program completely.

“To raise these funds means to withdraw any funding for research in Ukraine. It will also mean that Ukrainian science is unable to counteract the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. It is on the grant funding of the development of methods of diagnostics and production of test systems for detection of COVID-19 coronavirus, molecular design and synthesis of new drugs, sanitary-epidemiological analysis of the features of COVID-19 coronavirus spread and coronavirus pandemic management funding for science in 2020”, the note said.

Equally important for the development of science is the program of basic funding of science in universities, which was planned for UAH 400 million. It is important that at least UAH 220 million be saved in this area in order to provide the best scientists with the minimum necessary equipment.

At least in part, they also ask for the Auxiliary School for Better Results program, which is designed to equip support and large schools. In general, the general budget fund provided UAH 1.5 billion for this program, they are asked to keep at least UAH 500 million.

The development of vocational education institutions is also fundamental – the program of development of training and practice centers in them was offered to be completely removed. The Ministry of Education and Science and the Committee stress that at least UAH 100 million should be saved from the planned UAH 259 million.

It is important to keep at least UAH 3 million out of the planned UAH 7.3 million for teacher certification – a new mechanism that allows the best educators to receive a 20% salary bonus. The certification process for teachers has already begun this year – now the second phase, involving 1045 teachers, is underway. These funds are needed to complete the certification process in 2020.

They are also asked to save money on long-term preferential credits for higher education, at least for those who have already graduated, at least a partial allowance for young teachers and technical jobs, in particular for the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment, which needs printing equipment to conduct the Independent external evaluation this time

“We oppose the proposals of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, which deprive education and science of any chances for development and cause irreparable damage to the future of our country. It depends on the level of education and science what Ukraine will look like in the future, how firmly it will stand on its feet, and whether it will meet all the next challenges”, the official position of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Verkhovna Rada on Education, Science and Innovation reads.

It is important to note that, during the last day, the Ministry of Finance has already removed UAH 1,6 billion for the NUS subsidy from the list of funds that are planned to be reduced. Keep partial subsidy for the development of the New Ukrainian School is extremely fundamental for both the Ministry of Education and Science and the parliamentary profile committee.

Source: МESU