In Ukraine, the status of the English language is being transformed – the draft law was registered in Verkhovna Rada

Verkhovna Rada registered draft law No. 9432 “On the application of English in Ukraine”. The document is defined by the President as urgent.

According to the explanatory note to the draft law, it was developed in order to regulate at the legislative level the issue of the functioning of the English language as the language of international communication in Ukraine.

“The transformation of the status of the English language in Ukraine is a necessity and a strategic step towards the full membership of our country in the EU, because knowledge of the English language is a key competence in the conditions of globalization and changes,” the explanatory note says.

The draft document proposes to define the categories of positions for which candidates are required to speak English. It also aims to standardize the peculiarities of the use of English in the work of state authorities, authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, local self-government bodies, units of emergency assistance to the population, when crossing the state border, in the fields of education, culture, transport, health care, etc.

In addition, the draft law envisages changes to legislative acts in order to bring their norms into line with its provisions.

“The adoption of this Law will contribute to the mastering of the English language by citizens of Ukraine, the activation of the processes of integration of Ukrainians into the European community, the formation of the subjectivity of Ukraine in the global processes of globalization and the increase of its level of competitiveness, as well as the growth of investment and tourist attractiveness”, says an explanatory note.

It also emphasizes that now English is the official de jure language in 58 out of 196 countries of the world, and de facto in a number of other countries and territories (Bangladesh, Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, UAE).

We will remind you that last year the Ministry of Culture started working on the draft law, according to which the English language can receive special status in Ukraine.