On July 16, 2020, Sievierodonetsk of Luhansk Oblast hosted the advisory session “Division of powers of public authorities in the field of education” organized by the Swiss-Ukrainian Project DECIDE in cooperation with Luhansk Regional State Administration.
The event was dedicated to the discussion of division of powers of public authorities in the field of education. During the advisory session, the relevant issues of planning the network of educational institutions and their reorganization, organization of registration of children of preschool and school age, organization and financing of transportation of students (pupils) and teaching staff to educational institutions were raised. The discussion of fulfilling the function of the founder (participant) of a legal entity established by the decision of the relevant local council according to the law caused a lively discussion.
The representatives of the Department of Education and Science of Luhansk Regional State Administration, departments of education of the Raion State Administration of oblast, departments of education of village councils, teachers of Luhansk Oblast joined the discussion.
Natalia Protasova, DECIDE Project Director, noted that the effective education system can only work if we listen to experts and those who directly create education at the local level and in communities. Therefore, such advisory sessions are not just important, but are an urgent need to build national education system.
Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager, emphasized the importance of dialogue with communities during division of powers in the field of education and participation of regions and communities in making national legislation on local self-government.
Yurii Stetsiuk, Director of the Department of Education and Science of Luhansk Regional State Administration, said: “It is extremely important for Luhansk Oblast, education of which has its own features, to join the development of recommendations for improving the education management system at the regional level. By cooperating with leading international and domestic experts we will be able to develop new, innovative approaches to organization of education management and to create in Luhansk Oblast the education of European level – education of equal opportunities”.
As a result of the advisory session, the proposals will be made on possible options for division of powers in the field of education in view of the change in the administrative-territorial structure. The proposals will be submitted for further consideration when amending the Law of Ukraine “On Local Self-Government in Ukraine” (regarding the division of powers).
