During a working visit by the Polaris Programme's management to the Bukovyna region, a Memorandum of Cooperation and Partnership was signed between the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration and the Polaris Programme “Supporting Multi-Level Governance in Ukraine”, implemented by SALAR International.
The signing of the Memorandum marked an important step towards deepening systematic cooperation in the field of education policy and education management at regional and local levels.
The meeting, which focused on discussing practical steps for implementing the cooperation, was attended by Susanna Dellans, the Polaris Programme Team Lead and SALAR International’s representative in Ukraine; Oleksandr Yankov, First Deputy Head of the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration; Oksana Sakrier, Director of the Department of Education and Science at the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration; Oleg Fasolia, Team Leader of the ‘Education at Local and Regional Levels’ component of the Polaris Programme; and Hryhoriy Vanzuryak, Head of the Hlyboka Community.
The Memorandum provides for cooperation in several key areas, including:
- supporting the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration in implementing educational reforms;
- providing methodological guidance on the strategic development of the education sector in the region’s communities;
- working together to develop the school network, in particular the specialized secondary school system;
- improving the institutional capacity of educational management in the region;
- strengthening the capacity of local communities in the field of education management.
The First Deputy Head of the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration noted that it is important for the region not only to maintain the current functioning of the education system, but also to prepare systematically for long-term changes.
“The signing of this Memorandum creates a basis for more systematic cooperation in the field of education. It is important for the region that communities have access to expert support, modern management approaches and practical solutions that will help to implement educational reforms effectively at the local level,” said Oleksandr Yankov.
Susanna Dellance, Team Leader of the Polaris Programme and SALAR International’s representative in Ukraine, noted that the development of education is one of the key priorities of the Polaris Programme, and that changes in this area will be more effective through close coordination between regional authorities, communities and the expert community: “Our programme supports communities’ capacity to develop, and it is precisely education – and how it is organised – that plays a significant role in this. In cooperation with the Chernivtsi region, we will support the region and communities in implementing reforms, establishing an effective school network and strengthening management capacity at all levels.”
The document also provides for joint efforts to collect data, prepare analytical materials, organise seminars, working meetings and training sessions, as well as the transfer of materials and equipment as part of the project’s implementation.
At the same time, the Polaris Programme’s cooperation with the Chernivtsi region has already produced practical results. In particular, the Programme is currently working with communities in the region – Vyzhnytsia, Khotyn and Storozhynets – supporting them in developing their education networks, making management decisions in the field of education, as well as in developing the institution of starostas and strengthening the capacity of local self-government bodies.
In addition, the Khotyn and Storozhynets communities have already received emergency support from the Programme – technical assistance to improve access to public services.
