Rector of Odesa University tells how he forced teachers into classrooms

Rector of the South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky, Professor Andrii Krasnozhon shared his vision of the impact of online education on students and teachers.

He spoke about this on the air of Intent.Insight.

According to him, many teachers are used to working remotely, receiving a salary, but not actually returning to the classroom. He told how he personally tried to bring teachers back to full-time education, reminding them of the availability of classrooms and bomb shelters.

"And how many times have I driven teachers to the classroom, demanded that they be present, and let's get out of that online environment, let's work, because there are classrooms, there is a bomb shelter, and so on. How many people have just gotten used to the fact that they are sitting there somewhere, and the money is going away," said Krasnozhon.

According to the rector, the impact of the war on education is already evident, but the final consequences will be seen later.

"I think that in general, those who cannot get an education will not get it even if you go to Oxford and take these classes. If you want to get it, then you will walk like Skovoroda barefoot and naked across Europe and take what you need anyway. Online, offline, in boarding schools, and so on," he explained.

The head of the university also shared his thoughts on the transformation of education in the digital age. He compared his own learning experience with the opportunities available to modern students.

According to him, when he was a student, science was associated primarily with libraries, archives, and long searches for the necessary information: one had to order manuscripts, make photocopies, and seek help from friends abroad. Today, the rector noted, access to valuable sources is literally "in two clicks" - it is enough to have the Internet and you can easily browse the collections of even the largest national libraries in the world.

He emphasized that thanks to modern technologies, the concept of provincialism in science has virtually disappeared. Now anyone, regardless of where they live, can acquire world-class knowledge:

"The main thing is to have the Internet. And you are like Newton, who never left his city, but created great theories. You are independent, you have access to everything, and these are unique conditions for the development of science and education," the rector said.

Ірина Глухова