EDUCATION AS A STRATEGIC RESOURCE FOR ENSURING SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF COVID-19: STATE, POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract

The review article is devoted to the consideration of education in the context of the C-19 pandemic that affected the functioning of all spheres of society, changed the picture of the world and caused the transformation of education. Education is considered as the main strategic resource for ensuring healthy functioning of state and society. The need for adequate and professional educational policy of the state to overcome the crisis and ensure social and economic security of the population is emphasized. Destabilizing factors that significantly affect the state of education under pandemic conditions such as: social isolation, blocking face-to-face learning, social tensions, economic crisis, lack of reliable knowledge about the real state of affairs, unequal access to qualitative Internet, low level of digital awareness of teaching staff are identified. The analysis of the problems of education in a crisis situation is carried out, as well as potential opportunities for bringing education to a fundamentally new level in form and quality are identified. The authors emphasize the need to strengthen the foreign language competence of lecturers, because the situation requires theoretical knowledge from external sources for an objective analysis of the situation, as well as practical knowledge to improve their professional level (including through education and self-education, when using resources in foreign languages). Among the positive changes in education, the authors define the following ones: creation of new models of learning, expanding educational boundaries, efficiency, updating requests for education, disclosure of creative potential of lecturers. The article also determines the priorities of education: assistance, support and participation of the state and public authorities at all levels in the implementation of the principles of digital education; large-scale use of digital technologies of teaching and learning; development of digital skills and competencies of teaching staff, formation of digital communication culture; analytics in the education system, comparative researches, study of experience of other states, strategic forecasts. The article emphasizes that even in the conditions of destabilization of society the main problems lie in the field of moral responsibility. Therefore, reforms, changes, transformations of education should be carried out taking into consideration the basic moral values and respect for the individual.

Key words: digital resources, Internet, digital education, educational resources, digital communication, destabilizing factors, education priorities, digital awareness.