The spring of 2021, turned out to be very hectic for the employees of our organization.
On March 4, 2021, the head of the department, Arkady Slyoza, attended the meeting of the Public Council at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine with the participation of Serhiy Shkarlet. Representatives of churches, public organizations, schools and universities had the opportunity to speak up for the teaching of the subject “Fundamentals of Christian Ethics” for students in grades 1-11 in all schools of the country. The Minister of Education clarified that from this point on the children’s parents and the school administration will decide which of the subjects the children will study: “Christian Ethics,” simply “Ethics” or “Fundamentals of Good Neighborliness.” All those present were invited to step up their efforts to put together the new textbooks. The Minister was given a Bible as a present. And our employees also had an opportunity to present the magazine “The Word to the Teacher” to all the participants.
On March 20, 27-28 and April 3, Arkady Sloza, Nadiya Dolya, and Ruslana Kovalchuk attended the online competition “Teacher of the Year of Spiritual and Moral Studies,” organized by the Laboratory of Christian Ethics, Pedagogy and Psychology at the National University Ostroh Academy. They greeted the participants, got acquainted with their competition works, and called them to become contributors to a magazine for teachers.
On April 10 and 17, our staff workers were in the role of judges but this time children’s competition All-Ukrainian Olympiad “Young Bible Scholars” among students of secondary schools from all over Ukraine who study the subject “Fundamentals of Christian Ethics.” Each student took a test, prepared a creative task and a presentation. Our staff workers had the opportunity to listen and evaluate the performances of students of the sixth, seventh, ninth, and tenth grades of secondary schools, students of vocational schools and colleges.
Most of the Olympiad participants showed very good knowledge of the Bible, as well as originality and creativity. Many of them talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some participants recited poems and even sang songs about Jesus. In general, the activities at Olympiad were performed at a top-notch level. It was held online for the first time and had more than 300 participants from all regions of Ukraine.
Ruslana Kovalchuk has joined a group of specialists who are preparing a new textbook on Christian ethics for grades 5-6. She also continues to teach the subject “Fundamentals of Christian Ethics” in secondary schools. Her students from Rivne Ukrainian Gymnasium and Klevan Special School #1 took part in the second round of the All-Ukrainian Olympiad “Bible Scholars,” organized by the Charitable Foundation – Ukraine, Stay Alive!
Nadiya Dolya was invited to take part in the work of the expert group of the commission on ethics and subjects of spiritual and moral orientation at the State Scientific Institution “Institute for Modernization of Educational Content,” which reviews programs and textbooks of relevant courses and gives recommendations to the MES of Ukraine for approval.
Thank God for such opportunities in our country! Please pray with us that children could freely study the Word of God via the subject of the Fundamentals of Christian Ethics.
Tatiana Arterchuk
