Ministry of Education and Science and AUCCRO discussed cooperation
The meeting, which took place on March 4, 2021, was attended by the Minister of education and science of Ukraine Serhiy Shkarlet, the Institute for Religious Freedom reports.
Specialists delegated by religious organizations discussed together with the minister the directions of further cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science and the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations.
The agenda also included the issue of further teaching of spiritual and moral subjects in state and municipal educational institutions, which were introduced into the curriculum since 2006, and in the western regions-even earlier.
The meeting participants also discussed cooperation with the mass media to promote spiritual and moral education in Ukraine.
Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Serhiy Shkarlet stressed: "The dialogue between the state and the religious community for further improvement of state-faiths relations, in particular in the field of education, is very important. We must promote a balanced educational process, taking into account the proposals of all parties, as well as in accordance with the state standard of Basic Secondary Education approved in September 2020, and the standard educational program for grades 5-9 of general secondary education institutions adopted on February 19, 2021. The child's intellectual and spiritual development should be harmonious."
He noted the important role of the specialized public council for cooperation with churches and religious organizations under the Ministry of Education and Science in ensuring a dialogue between the ministry and the AUCCRO on the problems of moral education of young students.
The position of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations on a number of issues in the education sector was voiced by Hennadiy Belorytsky, a representative of the Association of Jewish Religious Organizations of Ukraine.
Following the meeting, the Public Council adopted an activity plan for 2021 and proposed that the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine create a working group to work out the issues of moral education of students of educational institutions.
