More than 100 participants joined the MP's public consultations in Lviv! On the initiative of MP Natalya Pipa and with the organizational and communication support of the USAID RADA: Next Generation Program, a public consultation called "Ukrainian-language environment is the key to successful education" was held on May 24.
Educators, politicians, government officials, and others discussed the Ukrainian language functioning in the educational environment, reviewed international experience, and debated what processes may take place in the educational environment of Ukraine soon.
Igor Kogut, the USAID RADA: Next Generation Program Director, emphasized that public discussions of socially important issues are significant, as the opinion of voters should be heard and taken into account. That is why the Program assists MPs and committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in holding such public events, engaging citizens in the legislative process.
"Today's meeting format is very interesting because it is an opportunity to demonstrate the active leadership of MPs in communications processes with voters. This communication is often perceived as a one-sided action. It's like we inform, and that's it. But in a developed democracy, it works differently. In addition to informing, you also need to have feedback. And today's format is an opportunity to hear not only the position of politicians, experts, and government officials but also the suggestions and opinions of professional communities - teachers and educators who work directly with children," added Igor Kogut.
Among the participants of the public discussion were, in particular, Serhiy Babak, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, Oksen Lisovyi, Minister of Education of Ukraine, Serhiy Kvit, President of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and former Minister of Education, Taras Kremin, the State Language Protection Commissioner, and Serhiy Horbachev, the Educational Ombudsman of Ukraine.
You can watch the video of the public consultation via the kink.
Photos of the event is available on our Facebook page.
One of the main goals of the USAID RADA: Next Generation Program is to increase citizen engagement in the legislative process, in particular through improved and systematic interaction of MPs with voters. Public consultations are one of the tools to achieve this goal.