Volodymyr Hroisman: “Ukraine needs to repeat the history of the revival of the Ostroh Academy”

March 01, 2019

On March 1, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Hroisman together with the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Liliia Hrynevych, government officials of Rivne Oblast and Ostroh town visited the National University of Ostroh Academy.

According to the good tradition, the Rector of the university Ihor Pasichnyk, representatives of students and professors, and theatrical characters, the founder of the Ostroh Academy Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi and the founder of this cultural and educational center Princess Halshka Ostrozka, met guests.

The reason for the meeting was the opening of the regular session of the international discussion platform "Ostroh Forum 2019" by Volodymyr Hroisman. This time national security as a synergy between economy and education was the topic of the discussion.

«If we analysed our history, it would become obvious that we had a lot of trials and difficult times, along with which there were great opportunities that, unfortunately, were not always used. For us, the desire to build a successful, prosperous, strong state has to become a national narrative. Ukraine needs to repeat the history of the renaissance of the Ostroh Academy, because led by your unchanging rector Igor Pasichnyk you managed to restore a unique educational institution with colossal prospects,» - comments Volodymyr Hroisman.

In his report, the Prime Minister noted that he considered the period from 2004 to 2014 as a decade of lost opportunities, because Ukraine had a quite powerful economy and only needed systemic reforms.

«When our enemy decided to occupy Ukrainian territory, we were very weakened. We were faced with a choice. We would either fall or stand in this hybrid war. Our economy was actually blocked, because we were energetically dependent on the Russian Federation by 100% up to 2014. We received constant informational aggression, a series of cyber-attacks performed by the enemy. The whole range of weapons that the enemy used was very wide, and we needed to be stout-hearted,» - emphasized Volodymyr Hroisman.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the success of the decentralization reform, which opened up opportunities for Ukraine's regional development.

According to Volodymyr Hroisman, the welfare of the country depends largely on the quality of education. That is why he believes the use of new approaches to the educational system to be justified.

«We strive for European standards via European integration and Ukraine's membership in NATO. It provides an opportunity to ensure high standards of living and strengthen our national security. Young people should take an important part in all government processes. I believe that young people are not only our future but also our present. You are forming the fundamental premise that will make our country different tomorrow,» - summed up the Prime Minister.

Students and lecturers had the opportunity to discuss with Volodymyr Hroisman the support of middle class representatives in Ukraine, assistance in the development of educational, cultural initiatives, etc.

In her report, the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Liliia Hrynevych noted the urgency of the topic "Ostroh Forum-2019", that is the interaction of economy and education as a basic component of the national security of Ukraine:

«The latest 2015 report of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed that there is a clear, absolutely proportional correlation between the pace of economic growth and the quality of the education system. Singapore has has the best school system, because it has a highly developed economy. Estonia ranked seventh in this ranking and also had high rates of economic growth. Neighbouring Poland occupies the 11^th place when Ukraine currently gets on the 37th. However, I am sure that we will move forward, and that is why reforms are being implemented. We need your efforts, your cooperation, and active participation, and I sincerely wish this for all of us! Let the National University of Ostroh Academy flourish!»

At the end of the meeting, the Rector of the Ostroh Academy Ihor Pasichnyk, presented Volodymyr Hroisman with the highest award of the university – the silver medal "Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi". In turn, the guests promised to allocate ₴10 million to finish the building of new campus of the Ostroh Academy, which the university authorities plan to open in September 2019.