Key topics for the implementation of the reform of specialised senior secondary education discussed with heads of education authorities in Lviv region

On 18–19 June, Lviv hosted a two-day training seminar-workshop for heads of education authorities and their deputies from 63 communities in Lviv region.

The professional development programme was approved by the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service and is worth 2 ECTS credits (60 hours). The training lasted from 11 until 27 May in a remote format, while on 18–19 June, an in-person workshop was held in Lviv.

The event became a platform to discuss the key directions for the implementation of the reform of specialised senior secondary education, as well as practical tools for the effective management of the education sector in communities.

The speakers included:

• Nadiia Kuzmychova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine;

• Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager, Deputy Head of NGO DOCCU;

• DECIDE National Experts: Serhii Yatskovskyi, Pavlo Ostapenko, Mariia Mishchenkova, Nadiia Balabust, Kateryna Nemyrovska, Andrii Matsokin, Pavlo Khobzei;

• Anna Morenko, Coordinator of the Educational Environment Division of the NUS Implementation Office.

The key topics of the seminar included:

• the changes envisaged by the reform of specialised senior secondary school and their impact on education in the communities of Lviv region;

• requirements and approaches to the organisation and development of the educational environment;

• opportunities for communities to attract funding and establish the material and technical infrastructure for educational institutions;

• the development of an effective network of educational institutions and cooperation between communities in this process.

In particular, the discussion focused on:

• the creation of a network of educational institutions that will provide specialised secondary education. Lviv region is one of the leaders in this process, as 75% of communities have already approved the necessary decisions, whilst 25% are at the stage of drafting or adopting such decisions;

• the number of students in the senior grades necessary for a lyceum to operate, and the capacity of lyceums to provide other levels of complete general secondary education. In Lviv region, the new network of lyceums will comprise 29 independent institutions, 24 lyceums that will include a gymnasium, and 84 lyceums that, in addition to a gymnasium, will also include a primary school;

• the management processes involved in transforming the network. For example, in Lviv region, 79 general secondary schools need to be reorganised, but the majority (78 %) have already started this process;

• piloting the implementation of the reform: Lviv region has 13 pilot educational institutions, of which 3 have been piloting the reform since 2025;

• ensuring access to academic lyceums through both transport provision and the organisation of boarding facilities: in order to achieve this, 75% of the communities in the region have already received at least one bus; the 10 existing boarding facilities require renovation, and there is a need to establish one new boarding facility;

• the creation of a new educational environment, in particular through funding from the New Ukrainian School subsidy.

In an open dialogue, heads of education departments talked with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and DECIDE experts, discussed the current challenges of implementing the reform, asked questions, and shared their own experiences.

Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager, presented to communities the opportunities for further cooperation within the framework of the second phase of the Project. She emphasised the importance of supporting communities in the implementation of education reforms.

The programme included study visits to educational institutions. In particular, the participants visited DECIDE career guidance hub, based at the State Vocational and Technical Educational Institution “Interregional Higher Vocational School of Road Transport and Construction”. The participants were introduced to approaches to setting up career guidance hubs, establishing cooperation between educational institutions and the business sector, and the role of communities in supporting students in their choice of future profession.

The participants also visited the T. H. Shevchenko Lyceum in Davydiv community in Lviv district, Lviv region. Representatives of the communities learnt about the experience of organising the educational environment and discussed approaches to the development of educational institutions in the context of the reform.

61 communities in Lviv region benefited from advisory support on the implementation of the reform of specialised senior secondary education from DECIDE experts on local self-government.

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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