On 27 June, an educational delegation from the Malovyska hromada visited the Lubny urban territorial hromada in Poltava oblast. The visit was organised within the framework of the “Education on Local and Regional Level” component of the Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris Programme, which supports the development of an effective and coordinated education system in hromadas.
The visit focused on studying examples of collaboration between a gymnasium and an academic lyceum – a crucial component for implementing the upper secondary school reform currently being actively pursued in Ukraine.
The delegation from Malovyska hromada was welcomed at the Matvii Nomys First Gymnasium. Educators toured the institution and participated in a roundtable discussion on pre-profile training and career guidance. During the discussion, teachers exchanged practices for preparing students in grades 5–9 to make informed choices about their upper secondary education pathways.
The next part of the visit took place at the Brothers Shemet Academic Lyceum, where participants joined another roundtable focused on organising profile-based education in the context of the reform. The discussion covered curriculum design, cooperation with parents, and managerial decisions required to launch a fully functioning academic lyceum.
Polaris education expert Serhii Diatlenko emphasised:
“Successful implementation of upper secondary school reform requires coordinated efforts across the entire education system – from basic schools to academic lyceums. That is why visits like this are extremely valuable: they not only showcase real-life examples, but also foster horizontal ties between communities willing to share experiences and learn from one another.”
The visit concluded with a tour of Lubny’s cultural landmarks and informal networking among participants, helping lay the groundwork for future cooperation.
The Polaris Programme continues to support partnerships between hromadas to create a sustainable education system that meets children’s needs, responds to today’s challenges, and aligns with European standards.
