Over the past few months, the Zymne hromada in Volyn oblast has become a recurring meeting point for sincere, professional, and vitally important discussions about the future of education. On 3 April, the hromada was visited by Viacheslav Dolid — an expert in education at local and regional level of the Polaris Programme. His visits are part of the Programme’s broader systemic efforts to support hromadas as they implement senior secondary school reform.
Over the past few months, the Zymne hromada in Volyn oblast has become a recurring meeting point for sincere, professional, and vitally important discussions about the future of education. On 3 April, the hromada was visited by Viacheslav Dolid — an expert in education at local and regional level of the Polaris Programme. His visits are part of the Programme’s broader systemic efforts to support hromadas as they implement senior secondary school reform.
Dialogue, Not Directives
The main aim of these visits is not simply to inform but to deeply immerse into the local context — to listen to parents, teachers, and local authorities. This is how trust is built — a fundamental ingredient for the success of any reform. After all, education is not about abstract concepts or standardised models. It is about real children. And every child is a universe of their own.
“The main message I try to convey during these meetings is that there is no such thing as an ‘average’ child. Every learner is different. That’s why hromadas must create environments where all pupils — without exception — can fully realise their potential,” says Viacheslav Dolid.
Honest Conversations and Shared Exploration
One of the key events during the visit was a meeting with parents and educators from the Zymne hromada. According to the expert, it was a heartfelt and at times difficult conversation about challenges, expectations, and opportunities. Yet it is in such honest discussions that genuine understanding begins to emerge; real change cannot be imposed from above — it must take root within the hromadas themselves, through open dialogue.
Reform Grounded in Real Needs
These visits allow the Polaris Programme to gain deeper insight into local needs and challenges, which can then be considered when shaping decisions at the national level. As seen with other partner hromadas — such as Malovyskivska — Zymne shows a high level of engagement in transforming its educational landscape.
Shifting the Focus: From System to Child
The central question posed during these expert visits is: “What should we do not with education, but for the child?” This shift in perspective is the key to building a modern, inclusive, and effective education system — one that is based not only on standards, but on the specific needs of each child, their family, and their hromada.
The Polaris Programme’s support for senior school reform at the local level continues, and such working visits are an integral part of this broader process — a reform that begins with a conversation, with respect for every voice, and with the understanding that each child is a universe we are here to help explore.
