Experts of the Polaris Programme have launched a series of working visits to second-wave partner hromadas within the “Education at the Local and Regional Level” area. The first visits took place in Kharkiv, Cherkasy and Kirovohrad oblasts, where hromadas signed memoranda of cooperation and held training seminars for education management teams.
In Valky hromada, Kharkiv oblast, the first memorandum was signed on 8 September with the participation of a delegation from SALAR International (Stockholm). This marked the beginning of a new chapter of partnership, focused on developing the local education network, introducing innovative approaches to management, and strengthening cooperation with key stakeholders in the education process.
On 10–11 September, Polaris experts Oleh Fasolia and Serhiy Dyatlenko visited Shpola hromada in Cherkasy oblast and Novoukrainka in Kirovohrad oblast.
In Shpola, a memorandum of cooperation was signed, followed by working meetings with the hromada’s education management team. The experts familiarised themselves with the local education network and agreed on joint priorities for improving the senior secondary school system.
Oleh Fasolia, Team Lead of "the Education on the local and regional level" area of the Polaris Programme, noted:
“Polaris helps hromadas prepare for the implementation of senior secondary school reform. This is not only about optimising the network, but also about creating educational opportunities that will provide children with access to modern knowledge and meaningful career choices.”
In Novoukrainka, the experts conducted a seminar on “Senior Secondary School Reform” for hromada leaders and district education management representatives, where they discussed the principles of forming the senior secondary school system.
Serhiy Dyatlenko, Polaris expert on education at the local level, added:
“We see tremendous demand from hromadas for practical tools. Seminars allow not only to share information but also to work through concrete steps — from communication with parents to creating education districts.”
Overall, the “Education on the Local and Regional Level” experts are already cooperating with 22 hromadas across Ukraine. The goal of this support is to help hromadas build resilient and modern education systems, capable of providing students with quality learning and equal access to opportunities as part of the senior secondary school reform.
