On April 4, 2024, a meeting was held with the participation of the Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi , Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mykhailo Vynnytskyi and representatives of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO). 

Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (SEFC) Viktor Yelenskyi, and Secretary General of the Ukrainian Bible Society (UBS), Representative of the Chairman of the UCCRO, Bishop Oleksandr Babiychuk, delivered their welcome speeches to the participants of the meeting. 

During the meeting, the priority issues within the framework of cooperation were discussed. In particular, the procedure for the recognition of documents on higher spiritual education in Ukraine (an issue that is especially relevant for strengthening the institute of chaplaincy), the formation of morality and spirituality of students, as well as further cooperation between the Ministry of Education and the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations.

Oksen Lisovyi

Minister of Education and Science

It is very important to restore trust in the religious environment in the education system and to cooperate with denominations to educate students on the principles of morality and values. For a long period of time, religious organizations in Ukraine have been to some extent discriminated in education due to the fact that attitudes toward them were formed through the prism of false things in the field of religion. The war has revealed "who is who" and this meeting is another step towards the development of cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) and Ukrainian churches and religious organizations.

Among the issues discussed were licensing of educational activities of institutions of higher spiritual education, accreditation of their educational programs and academic chaplaincy.

Sviatoslav Shevchuk

Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

The goal of our cooperation is harmony and the search for common ideas. First of all, we are talking about values and education. In the context of the ongoing war, we understand that this is not only an armed confrontation, but also a confrontation of values, a confrontation of intellects and minds. We will win if we are wiser, better educated, and morally superior. And all these foundations are formed in the context of education and upbringing.

During the meeting, the representative of the Chairman of the UCCRO, Secretary General of the UBS Oleksandr Babiychuk presented Minister Oksen Lisovyi, representatives of the MES and Head of the SEFC Viktor Yelenskyi with the jubilee edition of the UCCRO "Collection of Documents 1996-2021", which contains various documents of the Council of Churches, including those related to education.

We remind you that the cooperation between the MES and the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations is based on the Agreement of August 25, 2021. In addition, the Public Council for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Organizations operates under the Ministry of Education and Science.