DECIDE experts recently held public consultations in Ivano-Frankivsk region on reforming specialised senior secondary schools

To successfully implement the reform, the first step is to establish a capable of effective educational institutions. For this reason, DECIDE Project experts – Petro Hotsaliuk, Khrystyna Duda, and Ihor Melnychuk – together with local authorities, educators, and parents from the Halytska, Dubovetska, and Bilshivtsivska communities, met to discuss how to ensure access to high-quality specialised secondary education.

The experts held separate meetings in Yezupilska and Kosmatska communities, taking into account the local context of each community, given that solutions cannot be universal for everyone.

In particular, the following issues were the focus of the consultations:

• the development of a capable network of lyceums, taking into account mountainous terrain and remote localities;

• an analysis of the demographic situation and the state of the general secondary education network;

• selection of study programmes and the creation of individual educational pathways for each student;

• transformation of the education network in line with students’ real needs and the community's capabilities;

• development of a career guidance system for children and teenagers;

• creation of a safe and inclusive environment in the academic lyceum;

• organisation of regular transport for students and teachers;

• provision of accommodation for students in the boarding house;

• key changes for ninth-grade students starting from the next academic year.

The challenges for communities in Ivano-Frankivsk region differ, but the goal is the same – to create conditions in which every child receives a high-quality education, regardless of where they live. For example, Kosmatska community is mountainous, large, and scattered, where one of the key challenges is complex logistics. It is therefore important to develop solutions to build an educational network that is both accessible and effective. In particular, discussions focused on establishing an academic lyceum based at the main school in Kosmach, which already has the necessary facilities, a sufficient number of students and staff.

Meanwhile, Halytska community is part of an agglomeration, with a favourable location and good transport links, and has the potential to become an educational hub for neighbouring communities where no lyceums are planned. However, it also requires clear criteria for establishing a specialised senior school, particularly with regard to funding and profiles.

As Victoria Debenko, Deputy Head of the Halych City Council, points out, ‘The meeting was intensive and practically oriented. The team of experts shared the experiences of other communities that have already gone through the process of establishing lyceums. We discussed various approaches and analysed possible solutions together, to give all students the opportunity to study in line with their own interests. After all, this is how a conscious choice of career path is formed.’

Halyna Kashuba, Head of the Education Department at the Halych City Council, adds, ‘We had a very fruitful discussion. The experts answered all our questions and helped us better understand the approaches to establishing the network. We plan to create a single multispecialty lyceum with a sufficient number of students in each year group so that children have a real choice and can shape their own educational pathway. We will also conduct a survey of students on their choice of study profiles in order to take their interests and requests into account as much as possible.’

‘The success of the transformation is measured not by the number of lyceums, but by the ability to listen to every community and find answers to the difficult questions that arise at the local level. There is still a great deal of work ahead – from adapting premises and sorting out logistics in mountainous and remote villages to explaining the changes to teachers, parents, and students. We will continue to help communities make informed decisions. Education must be competitive and talent-oriented – only then it can become a factor in economic development,’ concludes Ihor Melnychuk, DECIDE Project Expert.

To date, consultations have already been held in 25 communities across Ivano-Frankivsk region.

To receive expert consultation, please fill in the form via this link. Our expert team will hold an online meeting or visit your community for an open discussion.

The DECIDE project is implemented by NGO DOCCU and PHZH International Projects in Education with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine.

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