DECIDE experts keep helping communities prepare for implementation of specialised senior secondary school reform
In July and August, the team of the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE Project’s experts on local self-government – Ihor Melnychuk, Petro Hotsaliuk, and Khrystyna Duda – visited 15 communities in two regions.
Consultations were held in Novytska, Spaska, Hvizdetska, Pidhaichykivska, Piadytska, Horodenkivska, Nyzhnioverbizka, Kosivska, and Korshivska communities, as well as in Teresvianska, Neresnytska, Dubivska, Horinchivska, Keretskivska, and Svaliavska communities in Zakarpattia region.
The consultations in Ivano-Frankivsk region were attended by Ihor Mandar, Deputy Head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration; Viktor Kimakovych, Director of the Department of Education and Science at the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration; and Roman Zubiak, Director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Institute of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education.
During the meetings with representatives of local governments, education departments, heads of educational institutions, and teaching staff, practical aspects of implementing the reform of specialised senior secondary schools were discussed.
The consultations focus on establishing a capable network of academically oriented lyceums, the selection of study programmes, the transformation of the network of educational institutions, and potential cooperation between neighbouring communities. At the same time, each community has its own distinctive features: some are situated in mountainous terrain, others comprise localities that are quite far apart, and many are home to members of national minorities.
The experts therefore provided recommendations taking into account the specific characteristics of each community – together with community representatives, they analysed demographic indicators and the projected student enrolment, examined possible models for the future network, considered the location and structure of academic lyceums, the organisation of transport, the development of educational profiles, and inter-municipal cooperation. They also discussed the logistical support for the future lyceums and how to communicate the changes to parents, teachers, and community residents.
‘People tend to have the most questions when the reform moves from a general plan to specific changes in the local community. Parents want to know where their child will be educated, how they will get there, and what will happen to the school in their village. Therefore, our task is not simply to prepare a council decision, but to explain to everyone why the changes are needed and what benefits they will bring to the children in the first place,’ says Bohdan Dadiak, Head of Novytska community.
‘Every community has its own concerns and challenges ahead of the reform. In some communities, people are worried about whether there will be enough children for the future lyceum; in others, they are concerned about how to organise transport; and still others are seeking solutions for the network itself. Therefore, it is very important that DECIDE experts work with each community individually: together they analyse the figures, explore possible options, explain the legal requirements, and help communities understand what steps need to be taken right now. After such meetings, communities have not just answers to specific questions, but a much clearer understanding of how to move forward,’ points out Ivan Demianchuk, Head of VAG in Zakarpattia region.
In total, since March 2025, 41 consultation sessions have been held in Ivano-Frankivsk region, 29 of which were in-person, attended by more than 1,200 participants. In Zakarpattia region, there have been 25 consultation sessions, 19 of which were in-person, attended by more than 600 community representatives.
Consultancy support for communities on implementing the reform is ongoing. If your community is also interested in receiving expert advice from DECIDE, please submit your application via this link.
The DECIDE project is implemented by NGO DOCCU and PHZH International Projects in Education with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine.
To view the photo gallery, click on the photo.