“Hungary and Ukraine see the Ukrainian education law completely differently,” said Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto during a press conference on Oct. 12. He was speaking after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, Pavlo Klimkin, who assured Szijjarto that the law “was not directed against any people.” Although the new language law is not scheduled to go into effect until 2020, Hungary’s government has already threatened to block any Ukrainian attempts to draw closer to the European Union. While some 7,000 Ukrainians live in Hungary, there are no state-funded schools where they can study Ukrainian, according to the Central Body of National Self-Government of Ukrainians and the Ukrainian Culture Society in Hungary. The reason is that the Ukrainians in Hungary are not concentrated in communities in a particular region of Hungary, but are spread around the country.
Elementary school education in Ukraine forms the foundation of a child's schooling career. Ukraine's Law on Education states that provision of elementary schools must be made wherever there are students. Elementary or primary education acts to develop children's personalities, talents, formation of morals, working education as well as knowledge of the human body, nature, industry and society. This level of education is compulsory in Ukraine and is available at various types of institutions. Students begin secondary comprehensive schooling at the age of 6 or 7 years. Basic school also falls under the secondary education system in Ukraine. This is the students' last level of formal basic education. This level of education provides the link to continuous education systems. It is compulsory to attend basic school for five years. Formal basic education is completed between the ages of 14 and 16 years. On completion of basic schooling the student will receive a certificate allowing them to continue on to upper secondary school as well as certain higher education institutions.
Ukraine has a very well-developed higher education system. Higher education is provided by higher education establishments, private bodies and scientific and methodological facilities of the government. This system also encompasses post-graduate programs and Ph.D's as well as self-education. The levels of accreditation depend on the Higher Education Institutes' status. Level one includes vocational schools and the like who train junior specialists. Level two are colleges and similar organizations who teach bachelors. Level three is made up of universities, institutes, academies and conservatories which provide education for bachelors and specialists. Level four includes universities, conservatories, institutes and academies which educate bachelors, specialists and masters. It is evident that the system of education in Ukraine has been well-developed and opportunities exist for the entire population, even those living in the rural areas.
