Mykhailo Shvydun
postgraduate student Department of History and Culture of Ukraine and Special Historical Disciplines,
Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav,
Pereyaslav, Ukraine
Е-mail: mihajloshvidun@gmail.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9220-1240
DOI: 10.17721/2522-4611.2025.52.8
DEVELOPMENT OF VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN THE CONDITIONS OF «PERESTROIKA» 1985–1991
The article attempts to analyze the situation of vocational education during the period of perestroika of 1985–1991. The course towards "perestroika" implied criticism of "stagnant" phenomena, an orientation towards expanding economic independence, democracy, and private initiative. An important component of this was "glasnost", which gave impetus to the liberalization of the media, the sphere of culture, education, and public life in general.
Throughout the existence of the Ukrainian SSR, the requirements for the qualification level of labor reserves in the country were constantly increasing. The career guidance work of educational institutions was aimed at choosing labor professions. For young people, meetings with labor veterans and innovators in production were organized, "Open Door Days" were held at enterprises, seminars, lectures, and films about "working days" and the traditions of the working class were shown. An important role in attracting urban and rural youth to vocational education belonged to the Central Committee of the Komsomol, which, based on the recommendations developed, carried out explanatory work in secondary schools of the republic.
An important stage in the development of vocational education was the reform of general education and vocational schools in 1984, which provided for the further development and improvement of the system of vocational education for young people. Various types of vocational schools of the Ukrainian SSR were reorganized into a single type of educational institution - a secondary vocational school (secondary vocational school). Vocational education institutions faced the urgent problem of computerization, the search for new forms and methods of educational work, and the strengthening of the national component of education. However, in this context, there was a lack of educational and methodological support, new textbooks and manuals, in particular, the social and humanitarian block.
In the late 1980s, in the context of liberalization and depoliticization of education, irreversible processes of overcoming the consequences of Russification of vocational education institutions were observed. In search of new forms and methods of presenting material, teachers turned to ethnography and folklore. Thus, in vocational institutions of Lviv, Ternopil, and Kharkiv, clothing and products with elements of Ukrainian embroidery and folk crafts were made in the educational process.
Key words: vocational education, vocational school, Ukrainian SSR, liberalization, «perestroika», educational process.
Received 29.08.2025.
Revised 12.09.2025.
Accepted 15.09.2025.
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