On March 13,2015, Boryspil, Educational Complex “Gymnasium “Perspective”. The Swiss-Ukrainian Initiative “Development of Citizenship Competences in Ukraine” (DOCCU).A seminar-training for the heads of local educational authorities took place

On March 13, 2015, Boryspil, Educational Complex "Gymnasium “Perspective” – primary school”.

In the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian Initiative “Development of Citizenship Competences in Ukraine” (DOCCU) a seminar-training for the heads of local educational authorities took place.

The Initiative is aimed at:

• implementation of the principles of proper governance by spreading education for democratic citizenship and human rights education (EDC / HRE) among representatives of local government bodies, teachers and students of secondary schools;
• the development of a civil society in Ukraine;
• strengthening of local government bodies by supporting democratic educational institutions;
• creation and implementation of a training course on  education for democratic citizenship and human rights education (EDC / HRE) into in-service civil servants, officials of local government bodies and teachers professional development programs and  training at the  national and regional levels;
• strengthening of  national debates on democratic citizenship on the basis of the European Charter on  EDC / HRE.

The project is supported by the Council of Europe on EDC / HRE  and is carried out by the National Academy of Public Administration,  the President of Ukraine (National Academy) and the Zurich University of Teacher Education and its Centre for International Projects in Education (IPE).

The pilot initiative of the Council of Europe on the implementation of the Charter on education on democratic citizenship and human rights (on EDC/ HRE principles) is aimed at the  involvement of local government bodies, headmasters and teachers of  secondary educational  establishments in the  development  of  democratic society.

The training was started by a chief expert of the Swiss-Ukrainian Initiative Natalia KLOKAR, the Head of Education and Science Department of Kyiv Region State Administration, Doctor of pedagogical sciences, Professor, who is also the author of trainers’ training program for secondary schools headmasters and teachers. The chief expert stressed that development of citizenship competences was an important factor and a precondition for democratic changes and reforms in a Ukrainian society.

Throughout the world, education is recognized as one of the foundations for democracy and a unique powerful tool to perform the task of society democratization.

During the theoretical part Natalia Benderets, a Vice-Rector for International Relations and ICT (KRISTTI), candidate of pedagogical sciences, presented main stages and forms of project implementation.

Alexander Poltavtsev, the Head of Education Management  Department, PhD,  described the basic concepts and principles of education for democratic citizenship and human rights education.

The training was held by master-trainers: Natalia Benderets and Alexander Poltavtsev, senior trainers; Svitlana Miroshnyk, the Head of Education and Psychology Department, candidate of pedagogical sciences; Iryna Bondaruk, the Head of History and Law Department, candidate of pedagogical sciences; Larysa Pietushkova, the Head of Practical Psychology and Social work Department; Olga Boyarchuk, the Head of School Education Department.

The following issues were discussed during the training:

• a political cycle model: politics as a process of social problems solving
• citizenship competences: key concepts
• citizenship competences formation methods
• meaning and usage of SWOT-analysis in management.

The participants practiced interactive learning technologies, debated actively and discussed in groups advantages and risks of democracy. During the training friendly atmosphere and  positive attitude dominated.