During the year, our four expert teams visited 22 regions of Ukraine. Each meeting was special for us, because each community is unique and requires an individual approach.
Today, we are sharing an example from the Zymnovodivska community in Lviv region. There, the expert team – Zinovii Siryk, Maryna Zamfir and Tetiana Tsupra – held a public consultation on the formation of a network of academic lyceums. The meeting brought together representatives of local authorities, educators, and principals of general secondary education institutions.
The educational network of Zymnovodivska community has significant potential for the formation of a specialised senior school. Currently, there are over 300 students in Grades 6-8 and almost 180 in Grade 10. Taking into account previous proposals for the formation of an educational network in the region, three academic lyceums are planned in the community.
However, while analysing the education network and talking with representatives of the community, it became clear that the number of lyceums needs to be looked at more closely, considering demographics, resources, and logistics. As Maryna Zamfir, Local Self-Government Expert, emphasises, ‘The formation of a network of lyceums is a process that must be based on real data and dialogue. Final decisions on the number of lyceums should be made after comprehensive analysis and discussions involving all stakeholders. It is especially important to engage in dialogue with parents, who are most interested in quality education for their children.’
‘Any reform is always a challenge. But we are convinced that a sense of perspective for our kids is the strongest motivation. When young people realise that they can fulfil their potential right here in Ukraine, in their own community, they no longer want to look for a “better world” somewhere else, but want to create it themselves. And only by forming an effective network can we provide children with decent conditions for learning: modern equipment and trained teachers,’ says Hanna Kholiavka, Head of the Education Department.
‘This meeting was very useful. The experts helped us understand the principles of the reform, what to expect, and how to prepare for the implementation of specialised secondary education. Now we have a better understanding of the changes that await us from 1 September 2027, how profiles will be formed, what courses will be available, and what subjects will be compulsory for all students,’ says Volodymyr Hutnyk, Head of the Zymna Voda Village Council.
If your community needs expert support in implementing the reform, please fill out a short form at this link.
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