44th session of the Human Rights Council
Item 3
Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to education
Intervention by Ukraine
(Geneva, July 3, 2020)
Madam President,
Ukraine welcomes the Special Rapporteur and thanks for her report, which makes a valuable contribution to the on-going global discussion on how to ensure the continuity of the education under conditions of COVID-19 pandemic.
Here we especially commend her efforts undertaken to highlight the multifaceted nature of the issue, pointing out the whole spectrum of the problems for the education system, which, in turn, should be thoroughly analyzed by the states while developing response measures.
Indeed, establishment of emergency education preparedness within national systems became a matter of priority, as rapid introduction of distance learning proved to be a real challenge for all actors of the educational process.
The right to free and quality public education for all without discrimination is protected by the Constitution of Ukraine. This approach is invariably adhered to under new circumstances.
In early April, just two weeks after introduction of the quarantine, a project “All-Ukrainian online school” for pupils of secondary and high schools was launched, and in May the Ministry of education and science together with partners developed the Methodological recommendations on organizing a distance education at school which took on board the lessons learned over the two months of the lockdown.
Importance of international cooperation in this sphere can hardly be overstated, in particular as far as sharing of good practices and delivery of useful guidelines are concerned. We join the Special Rapporteur in her welcoming the work accomplished by governmental and international stakeholders at all levels and would like to ask what further steps can be taken to ensure effectiveness of such cooperation?
I thank you.