Scaling Transformation: Ukraine Advances to the Next Stage of Upper Secondary Education Reform
Ukraine is entering a new stage of its upper secondary education reform. Starting on 1 September, 150 academic lyceums across the country will join the pilot phase of the new upper secondary education model — one of the key milestones of the New Ukrainian School reform.
The achievements of the pre-pilot phase, lessons learned by participating lyceums, and the next steps of the reform were discussed during the International Forum “Pilot Implementation of Specialized Education: Academic Lyceums”, held in Kyiv on 30–31 May.
Over the first year of the pre-pilot phase, academic lyceums tested new approaches to curriculum organization, profile-based learning, elective courses, educational spaces, and teacher professional development. The experience gained by these schools marks an important step toward scaling the transformation of upper secondary education across Ukraine.
«Every major reform begins with people who are willing to take the first step into the unknown. Change does not happen through policies and regulations alone — it comes to life in classrooms, through the daily work of teachers, principals, and school teams. That is why my first message is one of gratitude and support to the teams of academic lyceums that have taken on the responsibility of piloting the new upper secondary education model. These schools chose to embrace the challenge of building a different kind of upper secondary education — one that gives students greater opportunities to make informed choices and shape their own educational pathways. As a Ministry, our role is to establish the policy framework, secure funding, and create the conditions for change. But the success of any reform ultimately depends on the commitment, professionalism, and determination of the people who bring it to life in schools every day. It is thanks to these teams that the reform is becoming a reality for students across Ukraine», said Oksen Lisovyi, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine
The reform of upper secondary education introduces a new model designed to offer students greater flexibility and choice. Students will be able to select learning profiles, pursue subjects in greater depth, and build individualized learning pathways aligned with their interests, strengths, and future aspirations.
At the heart of the reform is a shift away from a one-size-fits-all approach to schooling toward a system that helps young people make informed decisions about their future education and career pathways.
“Ukraine is advancing the next phase of the New Ukrainian School reform, with pilot schools launching upper secondary education. As the reform progresses in the midst of war, the focus is on ensuring that change in policy becomes real change in classrooms. As we often say, reforms are won in classrooms, not in policy. The World Bank, through the LEARN programme, fully supports this effort, working with the Ministry to strengthen implementation and deliver better learning outcomes for every student.” said Enrique Alasino, Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank.
Throughout the pre-pilot phase, schools also tested new scheduling models, elective courses, interdisciplinary learning approaches, and career guidance practices. Participants emphasized that the reform is not only about new subjects or infrastructure, but about rethinking the overall learning experience, placing students, their choices, motivation, and future opportunities at the center of education.
The forum also explored international perspectives on upper secondary education reform and the role of education in recovery and long-term development. Discussions featured representatives of the World Bank, OECD, Education International, the Government of Estonia, and Finland’s Learning2gether project.
“The Social Capital Programme of the International Renaissance Foundation works to strengthen cohesion, trust, and cooperation within Ukrainian society. We believe that education makes one of the most profound contributions to this mission. And education is not only about curricula and standards — it is about the experiences students live through every day: experiences of choice, responsibility, and dialogue.
IRF, in particular, supports an international partnership of pilot schools in collaboration with the OECD.
An academic lyceum with profile-based learning is a place where such experiences become possible. It is a school where young people are not only preparing for university entrance exams, but also learning how to become active citizens. The International Renaissance Foundation supports this reform because we believe that strong communities — educational, civic, and local — are the foundation of a resilient democracy. Academic lyceums are places where such communities are born,” said Hryhorii Baran, Director of the Social Capital Programme at the International Renaissance Foundation.
“The NUS reform offers Ukraine a huge opportunity to align its education system with the demands of modern economies and European standards. I am so encouraged to see how the first group of pilot schools has already taken ownership of the key concepts of the NUS, and how these schools have translated those concepts into world class educational practice. Scaling this reform now means to turn that good practice into a new culture of learning. That requires enlisting teachers and parents to the cause, with constant communication and engagement to build a deep understanding of the ideas and benefits of the reform. It surely also requires investment in capacity, much of which will need to happen in schools, that must become places of learning not just for students, but for teachers and principals as well,” said Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Starting this September, students in 150 pilot academic lyceums will begin studying under the new model, which offers a broader range of learning profiles, elective courses, and opportunities for personalized learning. At the same time, efforts will continue to strengthen educational infrastructure, update curriculum content, and support teachers throughout the implementation process. The list of pilot academic lyceums is available here.
Beginning in 2027, the reform will move into the stage of nationwide implementation, expanding opportunities for students across Ukraine to access a modern, flexible, and student-centered upper secondary education.