Ukraine's High School Reform Under Fire
Concerns are mounting over student safety in small communities as Ukraine pushes forward with its high school restructuring plan. The reform requires daily long-distance travel for many pupils, yet the law fails to outline how transportation will be arranged, according to Education Ombudsman Nadiia Leshchyk. This gap creates serious dangers, especially for children living in remote areas.
Inna Krotichenko, whose daughter attends the Ivankivtsi branch of the Dmytriv Lyceum named after Taras Shevchenko, reported that the branch is slated for closure. She noted that the nearest settlement is 25 km away, with roughly 15 km of that route lacking mobile phone coverage. The road cuts through open fields, making travel difficult and heightening risks for children, particularly under martial law.
'If the school closes, children will have to commute daily to another town. The road goes practically through fields, and under martial law, this creates serious hazards,' Inna Krotichenko
Under Part 3 of Article 37 of Ukraine's Law on Complete General Secondary Education, the institution's founder must ensure students can continue their education in the event of reorganization or closure. However, as Leshchyk pointed out, 'The law does not specify how the founder of a general secondary education institution will fulfill this duty—whether by providing transport to a school in another community within its territory or by arranging studies in a different community.'
Worried parents have launched an online petition to the Cabinet of Ministers. According to data, 85% of parents support the reform, as Education and Science Minister Oksen Lisovyi stated during his address to the Verkhovna Rada on April 8. Still, many parents argue that critical factors like child safety and commute time are being overlooked.
'It feels like decisions are driven more by formal metrics than by the real-life circumstances of children,' Inna Krotichenko
Safety and Educational Access Under Scrutiny
Ukraine's academic year is set to run until June 30, 2026, per government resolution No. 1003, which schedules the 2025/2026 school year from September 1 to June 30, 2026. Yet questions of safety and equal access to education remain pressing, especially when children may face dangerous situations during daily commutes.
The high school reform situation underscores the urgent need to prioritize student safety in educational policy. Specifically, a detailed plan for transporting students to schools is critical—not only to guarantee access to learning but also to protect children's physical well-being. Under martial law, with heightened risks, it is essential that legislative initiatives reflect the real challenges Ukrainian families confront.
As the education reform progresses, it is crucial to understand the various types of schools that Ukrainian students will encounter. These changes could significantly impact the educational landscape and student experiences. For a deeper insight into how the reform will reshape schooling in Ukraine, explore more about the different school types introduced by the new education reform.