What Your Community Must Provide for Students Under Ukraine's 2027 School Reform

Local Government Responsibilities in Education

According to Главком: Educational Ombudsman Nadiia Leshchyk has clarified the duties of local authorities in maintaining access to education during school reorganization. She emphasized that the absence of an educational institution within a community does not relieve local government of its obligation to create conditions for children residing there to receive a complete general secondary education. This clarification comes as Ukraine undertakes a major overhaul of its school system.

“The founding body is obligated to ensure students can continue their education at the appropriate level,” Leshchyk stressed.

Ukraine's High School Reform

Ukraine's high school reform involves a transition to a 12-year education system, which must be finalized by 2027. On April 8, Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi confirmed the government's commitment to continuing the education reform in the Verkhovna Rada. According to the reform, educational institutions will be reorganized into:

• Primary schools (Grades 1–4)
• Gymnasiums (Grades 5–9)
• Lyceums (Grades 10–12)

Communities must establish this network of institutions by September 1, 2027.

Nadiia Leshchyk further stated that “every community must ensure children have access to a complete general secondary education.” She highlighted that, according to Article 13 of Ukraine's Law 'On Education', the guarantee of attending a school that is most accessible and closest to a child's place of residence applies only to students in primary and basic secondary education. The state ensures schooling as close to home as possible solely for younger and middle grades.

To secure educational access, local authorities may employ various methods, including:

• Providing transportation to a school within their own locality
• Forming agreements with neighboring communities

These measures will allow children to continue their studies even if their community lacks a suitable educational institution. The education reform in Ukraine aims to create a modern and accessible education system for all students.

Ensuring access to education is a crucial component of Ukraine's educational reform, which seeks to adapt the system to modern requirements and student needs. The ongoing school reorganization and the establishment of a new network of community-based institutions, continuing until 2027, aims not only to improve education quality but also to guarantee equal learning opportunities for all children, regardless of where they live.

As local authorities prepare for the upcoming education reforms, it's essential to recognize the broader context of funding and resources allocated to enhance educational infrastructure. Recently, the Ukrainian government allocated 700 million hryvnias for upgrading school science and technology facilities, which plays a crucial role in supporting the new educational landscape. This investment is vital for ensuring that communities can effectively meet their responsibilities under the reform. For more details on the funding and its implications for schools, see the government's recent allocation for school upgrades.