The Minister of Education and Science, Liliya Hrynevych, during the government meeting, proposed a decision that would provide textbooks for students of 4th and 7th grades of general educational institutions. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
In particular, the ministry reported that local authorities did not have the opportunity to purchase their part of textbooks, despite the funds received, due to inconsistencies in regulatory documents.
"In order to print more than 6 million copies of textbooks, publishing houses ask for a subscription for the purchase of paper. And according to current regulatory documents, local self-government bodies do not have the right to make prepayments. If publishing houses attract loan funds for printing textbooks, the cost of the textbook will increase significantly," the minister emphasized.
She reported that the ministry has prepared amendments to the relevant government regulations, which will allow local self-government bodies to make advance payments for these services and will provide an opportunity to eventually solve this problem and provide children with textbooks in full.
According to the results of the meeting, the government supported the proposals of Lilia Hrynevych and made relevant changes to the resolutions of the CMU No. 117 dated 04.23.14 and No. 6 dated 01.14.15, which should allow local authorities to make prepayments and ensure the purchase and delivery of textbooks for students 4th and 7th grades of general educational institutions.
"In addition, the Government made a decision that will allow the timely issuance of certificates and certificates of secondary education and the conduct of external examinations," the Ministry of Education and Science notes.