Language and the Internet: 12% drop in high school students valuing content language

A 12% decline has been observed in the proportion of high school students who perceive the language of online content as significant. In the 2022/2023 academic year, 62% of students valued the language of content, a figure that dropped to 50% in the 2023/2024 school year.

This topic was addressed during a review of state language functioning insights in secondary education for the 2023/2024 school year at the Media Center Ukraine.

“To ensure a high-quality educational process, it’s crucial to discuss the language students use on the Internet, including communication on social networks and during homework and study preparation. With most schools operating online, the language children use on the Internet is significant. However, there is a concerning trend: 12% fewer high school students now consider the language of content important. This indicates indifference towards the language used on social media, with many opting for russian among other languages,” stated Ruslan Hurak, Head of the State Service of Educational Quality of Ukraine.

Additionally, the percentage of teachers communicating exclusively in Ukrainian online has decreased. In the 2022/2023 academic year, this figure was 80%, but it dropped to 77% in the 2023/2024 academic year.

“This 3% decrease falls within the margin of error, but it could indicate a trend. We need to continuously monitor and update this,” added Ruslan Hurak.

It should be noted that the study surveyed students in grades 8-11, their parents, and teachers in 121 general secondary education institutions, including 85 in urban areas and 36 in rural areas. The representative sample accurately reflects the demographics of five regions and the city of Kyiv.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news