Conceptual bases of reforming the content of general secondary education in Ukraine (1991–2017): historical and source studies aspect

Abstract

The article considers the problem of reforming the content of general secondary education in independent Ukraine in the historical and source studies dimension. It has been found out that in the Ukrainian and foreign historiography there are no works that systematically cover this topic. To achieve the goal of the research using the source studies approach as the leading one, documents (laws, programs, doctrines, concepts, standards) and analytical materials were identified and characterized, which reflect the conceptual bases of reforming the content of general secondary education for establishing their informative value. It has been grounded that in 1991–2017 national educational legislation was developed, as well as new methodological principles for improving the content of general secondary education and intensification of creative pedagogical thought on the future development of this content based on universal and national values. The leading role in this process was played by scientists of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine. It has been proven that the documents contain information about radical changes in the content of general secondary education: from the proclamation of new principles of its formation (national, democratic, humanistic, differentiation and individualization, humanization, child-centered, scientific, standardization, continuity, variability, etc.) to development and concretizing them. The source study of the works of the authors (M. S. Vashulenko, V. G. Kremen, O.I. Lyashenko, Yu. I. Malovany, O. Ya. Savchenko, etc.) of the national educational legislation made it possible to obtain knowledge about the features of the selected materials (authors), time, circumstances, purpose of creation, actual value, reliability, representativeness, influence of the epoch). The disclosed documents, articles of their developers on the reform of the content of general secondary education in independent Ukraine are of great importance for the reproduction of the real picture of the studied process. It has been found out that the development of the content of general secondary education was influenced by socio-political, socio-economic factors, the development of pedagogical science in accordance with the needs of the young state and society in the European integration process and self-identification of the Ukrainian nation.