On 2–3 April, Serhii Diatlenko, the local and regional education expert of the Polaris Programme, paid a working visit to the Mala Vyska hromada in Kirovohrad oblast – one of 10 partner hromadas of the “Education on local and regional level” component. The purpose of the visit was to assess the state of the educational network and gather current needs and challenges at the local level for further consideration at the national level.
One Lyceum per Hromada: Advantage or Disadvantage?
Serhii Diatlenko highlighted the positive experience of the hromada in operating a single lyceum, established in Mala Vyska back in 2021:
“Today, there is much discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of having one lyceum per hromada. What is notable is that neither parents, nor students, nor teachers express concerns about this model. On the contrary, they speak positively about this approach to specialised education. Parents are satisfied with the quality of learning compared to what was previously available in small rural schools.” 
Parents, students, and teachers emphasise the high standard of education and the opportunities provided by learning in a larger collective. Senior students can choose from six specialised study tracks, which helps them prepare for their future professional paths.
Challenges and Future Prospects
Despite these positive outcomes, discussions revealed certain challenges, particularly the excessive number of subjects in the curriculum and the insufficient technical equipment available for the learning process. At the same time, the heads of gymnasiums, who are now focused on primary and lower secondary education, admit that they miss working with older students.
Why Are These Visits Important?
The reform of upper secondary education in Ukraine aims to establish a high-quality and efficient educational network that meets the evolving demands of society. The working visits of Polaris Programme experts to local hromadas play a crucial role in understanding real challenges on the ground and contribute to the development of well-founded policy decisions at the national level.
As Serhii Diatlenko noted:
“Every hromada needs a fresh perspective, as the argument ‘this is how we’ve always done it’ still holds sway. And expert’s insights can be persuasive for school leaders, local councillors, and even parents and students.”
The Polaris team continues its work, and such visits help ensure that the reform of upper secondary education is effective and tailored to the real needs of each hromada.
