THE DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINIAN NATIONAL IDENTY AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITHIN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35433/pedagogy.4(123).2025.5Keywords:
patriotism, patriotic education, national education, national identity, Ukrainian national identity, national-identity component of the educational process, Ukrainian identity, preschool education institution, New Ukrainian School, higher education institutionAbstract
This article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the formation of Ukrainian national identity within the education system as a strategic task of state policy in the context of contemporary challenges, particularly the full-scale war. The author emphasizes the importance of Ukrainian national identity for societal consolidation, strengthening statehood, and fostering responsible citizenship. Based on the current legislative framework – the Laws of Ukraine "On Education", "On Complete General Secondary Education" and "On Higher Education" as well as the Strategy for National-Patriotic Education and the Concept of Identity Formation – the normative foundation of educational activities is outlined. An overview of the implementation of the national-identity component at various levels of education is provided. In the field of preschool education, emphasis is placed on the necessity of integrating concepts of language, culture, symbols, and family values into the educational environment as the basis for a child’s primary identity formation. In school education, key roles are played by courses in Ukrainian history, the Ukrainian language, and civic education, as well as interdisciplinary integration, which is reinforced under the New Ukrainian School (NUS) reform aimed at fostering values, civic responsibility, and individual awareness of belonging to the Ukrainian nation.
In higher education, Ukrainian national identity is considered through the lens of critical thinking, analysis of historical meanings, and philosophical and cultural contexts. Not only the academic component but also extracurricular activities play a crucial role: student participation in volunteering, cultural initiatives, and community projects contributes to conscious self-identification with the Ukrainian nation. In conclusion, the author notes that effective formation of Ukrainian identity requires a systemic approach, methodological support for educators, updating the content of education, provision of a Ukrainian-language environment, and consideration of students’ age, socio-cultural, and regional characteristics.
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