Challenges in the Modernization of General Secondary Education Institutions in Ukraine (First Quarter of the 21st Century)

The article characterizes the main features of Ukrainian education at the beginning of the 21st century: the construction of a national school as a humane, democratic, personally oriented, nationally oriented education; direction to the formation of an individual who is aware of his belonging to the Ukrainian people, to the affirmation of the national idea, promotion of national self-identification; individualized nature of training; directing the educational process to the paradigm of research and investigative activities of students. The task of implementing the concept of the New Ukrainian School has been updated: the formation of key competencies based on updating the content of basic education; provision of specialized education management; design and modeling of professional development, support for teaching staff; digital transformation of education; creation of a safe educational environment, free from any form of violence and discrimination, and a new educational space in accordance with the principles of motivating and creative design, technology and inclusiveness in the general secondary education institution; improving the quality of psychological services in educational institutions; provision of conditions for career guidance of students. It was determined that the goal of the new school is to provide a cohesive community of creative people, responsible citizens, active and enterprising for the development of a powerful Ukrainian state and a competitive economy. The leading idea is the relationship between all subjects of the educational process as the cooperation between the school headmaster, teachers, students, and their parents at the level of full team members who work together and overcome the problematic issues of the individual needs of the school and students. Positive changes in the modernization of Ukrainian education have been identified: the introduction of general compulsory secondary education, the expansion of the school network, the intensive development of pedagogical science in the direction of modernization of the content of education on scientific and general cultural principles, teaching methods; developmental educational strategies, formation of ideals of personality education, taking into account moral values and principles of universal and national culture.