Журнал Viche 2008 №18

№18, 2008

Risks of the national system of education in view of joining the World trade organization

Education of Ukraine during the years of independence has been intensively reformed, however the conception of the reform does not have reliable basis so far, and the methods of realization of reforms are debatable. Indisputably, the important public problem of the strategic providing of education reformation is to be the subject of large-scale discussion, of complex scientific examination at participation of leading national and foreign specialists in pedagogic, psychology, economy, law, state administration and so on.

From the new school year the subject called “Basis of consumer knowledge”, which will be studied optionally, appeared at Ukrainian school. The Ministry of education and science will introduce the subject using the money of foreign donors within the framework of common project of the European Union and the profile program of development of the UNO. By the way, there are already about three hundred subjects studied after the choice of parents at national educational establishments.

O. K.

GATS foresees four methods of grant of educational services: 1) “supply across the border” — in particular, these are distance education and electronic studies (a user remains on the national territory and the service  supplier is in other country, the service is transported across border); 2) “consumption abroad” - the user goes on studies to the service supplier; 3) “commercial presence” by means of, for example, acquisition or foundation of educational establishment on the national territory by some foreign university, foundation of a branch or a representative office; 4) “presence of physical people” - in particular, it is temporal arrival of teachers for the grant of educational services (independently employed or sent by a foreign employer). Understanding of education as a service foresees: 1) rapid commercialization of education; 2) standardization of quality of educational services. It can be foreseen that the developed countries, using this instrument, will aim to extend substantially the export of the educational services, expecting certain economic and political benefit.

Ihor ZHYLYAYEV