Most Ukrainians against introduction of 12-year education system in comprehensive schools, poll shows

Kyiv, October 30 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Most Ukrainians are against the introduction of a 12-year education system in comprehensive schools, according to the results of a poll entitled "Education problems in the view of the upcoming elections," conducted by the Institute of Social and Political Psychology of the Academy of Political Sciences of Ukraine and presented at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

According to the results of the poll, a total of 65.4% of the respondents were against the introduction of the 12-year education system in comprehensive schools, while 13.2% of those polled considered this a good idea. At the same time, a total of 71.4% of the pupils of the 10th and 11th grades were against the innovation.

A total of 36.8% of the respondents said the procedure of admission to higher education institutions of the country on the basis of a certificate of independent testing should be developed, while 40.2% would like to return the previous procedure of admission.

The survey was conducted on October 5-12, 2009 in all regions of Ukraine, as well as in Crimea and Kyiv. A total of 2,000 respondents in 238 populated areas, 101 cities and 137 villages, were polled. The poll's margin of error is 2.2%. Moreover, a total of 405 pupils of the 10th and 11th grades were polled using abbreviated questionnaires.