Agricultural Education in Gubernias of Left-Bank Ukraine: Formation and Trends at the End of the 19th Century
Abstract
The purpose of the research paper is to study comprehensively the process of formation of agricultural education in Left-Bank Ukraine gubernias in the second half of the 19th century, to trace the establishment of the first educational institutions, to determine the patterns and features of this process both in the all-Ukrainian and regional dimensions.
The scientific novelty. The formation of an agricultural education in Left-Bank Ukraine in the second half of the 19th century is comprehensively studied, and the network of educational institutions, as well as the role of zemstvos and private initiative in their establishment, are determined for the first time.
Conclusions. In the second half of the 19th century in Left-Bank Ukraine, the formation of an agricultural education system, which played an important role in the modernization of agriculture, began. Agricultural education in the region was being formed under the influence of social and economic challenges and the need for agriculture in skilled labour.
The first example of an agricultural educational institution was Poltava School of Horticulture (1820), and in the 1840s, model educational farms were organized near Kharkiv and Luhansk. Kharkiv Agricultural School (1855) achieved significant development, becoming the region’s preeminent educational and scientific center. The School had powerful material facilities and a large farm, and it provided high-quality training. Its graduates were successful in farm management, teaching, and scientific activities.
A pivotal stage in the formation of lower agricultural education was the approval of the ‘Normal Regulations for Lower Agricultural Schools’ in 1883, which gave impetus to the establishment of new-type educational institutions. Such schools were divided into two ranks (depending on students’ educational attainment) and by specialization (general, horticultural, dairy, women’s, and practical). The curriculum combined theoretical knowledge and practical farming. The education content included both general and professional disciplines (horticulture, vegetable gardening, beekeeping, viticulture, and related subjects).
As of the end of the 19th century, a total of 18 lower agricultural schools of various types were in operation in Left-Bank Ukraine, among which the most widespread were general schools of the first rank. A significant role in the establishment of the institutions was played by zemstvos, public institutions, and private individuals. The state provided limited financial support in accordance with the regulations of 1883. As a result, the formation of the system of agricultural education in Left-Bank Ukraine in the 19th century was predominantly driven by public initiative.
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