On June 29, a meeting of the executive committee of the regional branch of the Party of Regions was held in Lutsk, at which the issue of implementing in Volyn the order of the Ministry of Education "On approval of the 'Model Regulation on the procedure for reporting by heads of preschool, general education and vocational-technical educational institutions before pedagogical collectives and the public'" was considered, the Western Information Corporation was informed by the Volyn Regional Branch of the Party of Regions.\n\nThe members of the executive committee of the regional party organization decided to publish in the media an Address to the people of Volyn, which expresses concern about the above-mentioned order, which created an opportunity for unlawful pressure on educators based on political views and unprofessional interference in the affairs of educational institutions.\n\nThe Volyn regional organization of the Party of Regions opposes the provision of V. Yushchenko's election program "Ten Steps Toward the People" regarding a new change in the term of study in secondary school and a change in the knowledge assessment system. This, in the opinion of the party organization, constitutes inconsistent steps toward implementing the program of Ukraine's entry into the European education system, complicates children's and parents' understanding of reforms in the field, and compromises the activity of the state and political elite in the strategy of developing Ukrainian education.\n\nThe Party of Regions called on the people of Volyn to support its vision of the processes taking place in educational life and to express them in the columns of local mass media.\n\nWe present the full text of the Address of the Volyn Regional Branch of the Party of Regions:\n\n"Dear people of Volyn!\n\nV. Yushchenko's election program "Ten Steps Toward the People" contains a provision on raising the authority of the Teacher and returning to a ten-year term of study in secondary school with a five-point knowledge assessment system.\n\nThe Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has partially begun implementing these strategic tasks in accordance with the order of 23.03.05 "On approval of the 'Model Regulation on the procedure for reporting by heads of preschool, general education and vocational-technical educational institutions before pedagogical collectives and the public'". In accordance with this order, the head of an educational institution in June-August must personally report at a meeting before the public and the pedagogical collective on work during the academic year. The meeting, based on the results of the head's report, evaluates his activity by secret ballot (the right of choice is absent). In the event that the work of the head of the institution is recognized as unsatisfactory, within five days a petition is filed with the relevant education management body regarding the head's incompatibility with the position held.\n\nGiven the current political situation in the state, the authorities have found a "good argument" for pressuring heads of educational institutions who were members of political parties, supporters of V. Yanukovych and have their own point of view different from the positions of the authorities. We have recorded facts in the districts of the region about preventive conversations by representatives of the "new" authorities with heads of educational institutions with recommendations to leave their parties and join "Batkivshchyna" or "NSNU". In case of refusal, at meetings in educational institutions it is proposed to subject the heads to public censure and evaluate their work as unsatisfactory.\n\nWe call on all those who are not indifferent to speak out against unprofessional interference in the affairs of educational institutions and pressure on educators, as well as to engage in discussion on this matter.\n\nWe are against the return of a ten-year term of study in secondary school with a five-point knowledge assessment system. Such steps are inconsistent with regard to implementing the program of Ukraine's entry into the European education system, complicate children's and parents' understanding of reforms in the field, and compromise the activity of the state and political elite in the strategy of developing Ukrainian education. Minister of Education Nikolaienko S. P. and many other representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers are former or current deputies of the Verkhovna Rada, who through reformist actions in their time contributed to such a development of events. The submitted proposals, after the election of the President of Ukraine, create a precedent for changing the strategy and tactics of developing state policy in the field of education. Such a policy is erroneous and will bring nothing but harm to Ukraine.\n\nWe propose that all highly educated people of Volyn support our vision of the processes taking place in educational life and express their thoughts in the columns of the mass media.\n\nExecutive Committee of the Volyn Regional Branch of the Party of Regions"