Ukraine and Germany sign agreement to strengthen cooperation in school education

Today, an agreement between the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the German Federal Foreign Office on cooperation in school education was signed. The document was signed by the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyi and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine, Heiko Thoms.

The conclusion of the Agreement will contribute to strengthening and expanding bilateral partnership in education, as well as opening new opportunities for:

• supporting the study of the German language in Ukrainian schools;
• enhancing the qualifications of German language teachers;
• improving the language proficiency and country-specific knowledge of Ukrainian pupils;
• expanding the network of partner schools in Ukraine under the “Schools: Partners for the Future” (PASCH) programme and promoting international contacts between schools.

The PASCH programme unites schools worldwide that actively promote German language learning and support cultural exchange among young people from different countries. In Ukraine, the PASCH network includes schools cooperating with Goethe-Institut Ukraine and the German Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA). Pupils at these schools can take language exams to obtain the German Language Diploma (DSD I/II), participate in international competitions and exchange programmes, and receive scholarships to study in Germany.

As part of the agreement signing, a meeting was also held between the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Nadiia Kuzmychova and representatives of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ukraine, led by Head of the Cultural Department Lisa Heike. The parties discussed the current state of bilateral cooperation in school and higher education, as well as future partnership prospects in the context of Ukraine’s educational system recovery and modernisation.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine expresses gratitude to the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for its consistent and comprehensive support of Ukraine amid the full-scale war. Particular value lies in the implemented humanitarian, educational, and scientific programmes, as well as measures to ensure continuity of learning for Ukrainian children temporarily residing in Germany and to support the study of the Ukrainian language abroad.