Task 2.1. Read the article “School in the Third Millennium” (from ‘English Learner’s Digest’. – 2002. – N17. – P.1-2).

School in the Third Millennium

Ukrainian schools have undergone considerable transformations in the past ten years. At the turn of the 1990s, the Soviet educational system imploded, as authoritarian pedagogy was replaced with one of cooperation; new instruction methods appeared and schools were now seeking individuality and experimenting. Mistakes were made, of course, but there was progress, there is no denying that.

Parents have a wide choice: they can send their children to ordinary secondary schools, specialist ones, gymnasia, lyceum, or private education institutions. So what schools are there in Kyiv?

Reference: There are 461 so-called general educational establishments in Kyiv of various types and kinds of ownership, with a total student body of 331,847. In addition to the conventional daytime method of instruction, there are opportunities and conditions for individual tuition to receive a secondary education that embraces 948 physically handicapped children. Most schools offer morning instruction and only 65 in the afternoon.

Money Solves All Problems

Reference: There are 20 private educational establishments in Kyiv, including 15 general educational schools and 5 kindergarten schools, enrolling a total of 699 children (0,5% of the capital’s student body). All private institutions are entered in all district and city educational networks.

Progressive pedagogues predict that children will eventually study only under individual programmes tailored to literally every child. Private schools, gymnasia, and lyceums are well on their way to this future educational system. Their classrooms are meant for 10-15 children each, so the teacher can see everybody clearly. And the teacher works with everyone individually, the more so as children spend practically the whole day in the private school.

Parents have nothing to worry about: their children are served tasty meals 3-4 times a day, transported to school and back, with professional medical personnel to care for them.

Children do not only study, but also participate in sports and in various hobby groups. They issue newspapers, go to theatres and museums; they have well stocked libraries, modern-equipped language laboratories, and so on.

Grande was the name of the first private lyceum (formerly Phenomenon) to open in the Ukrainian capital. It started by enrolling 15 students. Currently, the number is 150 with a teaching staff of 75. In addition to a regular secondary school diploma, the graduates receive the International Baccalaureate recognised by the world’s leading universities. And there is the British International School enrolling children of 26 nationalities. Its graduates are issued a secondary school diploma that qualifies for British university entrance.

Getting enrolled in a private institution of learning is not difficult. Unlike former Soviet specialist schools, the children are not selected by their parenthood, but the cost. The British International School costs $8,000 a year; Grande is $650 a month. There are less expensive institutions, of course – e.g., the Tourist Lyceum (tuition starts in the eighth year of secondary school and costs $80 a month plus $140 annually for the textbooks, museums, theatres, etc.); Harmony Humanitarian gymnasium ($150 a month), and the Spivtvorchist School (400-700 hryvnias monthly).