On 1 September 2027, Ukraine will launch a reform of high secondary education, which involves the creation of a network of academic lyceums. Pustomytivska community decided not to wait and has already gone through the process of reorganisation, decision-making, and establishing a new educational institution.

The head of the community’s Education Department and the principal of the newly established lyceum talk about the challenges of transformation, internal competition between institutions, turning parental resistance into support, and the role of expert assistance from DECIDE Project.

‘The community definitely needed one powerful institution that could provide high-quality educational services. We organised public hearings at each of the five lyceums. Our goal was to convey to parents the essence and importance of reforming high secondary education. Of course, not everyone supported or understood us. We discussed the matter, presenting arguments both for and against, and sought ways to resolve the situation together,’ says Nadiia Kohut, Head of the Education Department of the Pustomyty City Council.

Read the article to find out how the reform began, how the teaching team was formed, what the educational profiles are, and why high school students say, ‘It’s like a university here.’

To view the photo gallery, click on the photo.