English may receive the official status of the language of international communication in Ukraine: details of the bill

The Verkhovna Rada plans to consider in the second reading a draft law granting English the status of one of the languages of international communication in Ukraine at one of its upcoming meetings. The document defines the categories of positions for which candidates are required to speak English, and will also provide for the study of English in preschool education institutions. This was reported by UNN with reference to the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada meeting.

Details

According to the draft law, it is proposed to officially recognize the status of English as one of the languages of international communication in Ukraine. The document defines the categories of persons who must be proficient in English, in particular:

civil servants of category "A";

civil servants of categories B and C, the list of which will be established by the Cabinet of Ministers;

heads of local state administrations and their deputies;

military officers, sergeants and non-commissioned officers performing military service under a contract, the list of which is established by the government, police officers, as well as employees of other law enforcement agencies and senior civil defense officers (this requirement may not apply during mobilization or martial law);

prosecutors;

border guards and customs officers;

heads of state research institutions;

heads of higher education institutions.

The requirements for the appropriate level of English proficiency of the above-mentioned persons, as well as the list of documents certifying the level of English proficiency, including internationally recognized certificates, will be established by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The requirements for English language proficiency are developed taking into account the scale of the Council of Europe's recommendations on language education.

The exam will be organized by the State Education Quality Service of Ukraine.

If persons applying for the above positions have not passed the English proficiency test, they may retake it an unlimited number of times, but no more than once every four months.

The document also provides for incentives for persons holding these positions. For example, if a person speaks English at a level not lower than B2, they will receive a 10% bonus of their salary.

Preschool education institutions must provide compulsory English language learning for children of primary, middle and senior preschool age. The state will also facilitate the training and professional development of pedagogical and scientific and pedagogical staff teaching English, as well as promote the creation, implementation and dissemination of innovative digital resources for learning English.

The state will also promote the use of English in the cultural sphere.

Official Internet representatives and official websites of higher education and research institutions will have to duplicate their information in English as well.

"The English-language version of the official website (including the official website) must contain up-to-date and sufficient information on the content of educational programs and their staffing, as well as the main provisions on the organization of educational, scientific and/or artistic activities in the relevant institutions and establishments," the draft law says.

The same rules will apply to information materials about cultural, artistic and entertainment events, information about museum objects, museum collections and museum collections, documents of the National Archival Fond displayed in state and municipal museums, archival institutions and exhibitions.

"Museums, along with audiovisual information about museum objects, museum collections, and museum collections in the state language, shall ensure the availability of similar information in English," the bill states.

Also, information in English should be placed in information and orientation signs about the tourist resources of Ukraine, as well as in airports, seaports and river ports, in vehicles engaged in international transportation, at railway stations, bus stations, information should be duplicated in English.

In addition, the names of healthcare institutions must be duplicated in English.

Ukrainians will be financed to learn English at the expense of the state budget.

Recall

At the end of June last year, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a new status for English in Ukraine - as a language of international communication - and submitted a draft law. Among other things, the draft law stipulated that "foreign films whose original language is English shall be shown in cinemas in the original language with subtitles in the state language.

In mid-November, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed in the first reading a bill on the official recognition of English as a language of international communication. The draft law contained a provision that provided for the screening of English-language films in cinemas in the original language with Ukrainian subtitles. However, MPs excluded this provision.