On 16 April, the educational forum “Experience in Implementing Upper Secondary Specialised Schools: From Project to Realisation” took place at the Slavuta Academic Lyceum. The event brought together 34 representatives of the educational community and local self-government from Lubny (Poltava oblast), as well as Obukhiv and Zolochiv hromadas in Kyiv oblast. The forum became a space for open dialogue, sharing practical experiences, and discussing challenges and solutions in the context of secondary education reform. It was held with the support of the Polaris Programme “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine”.
From Vision to Action: Slavuta Hromada’s Experience
The forum was opened by the Mayor of Slavuta, Vasyl Sydor; Olena Popova, Lead Specialist of the Department of School Education at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine; and Oleh Fasolia, Team Leader of “Education on Local and Regional Level” direction within the Polaris Programme. The event continued Polaris experts’ consistent efforts to support hromadas in the effective optimisation of their school networks in line with the reform of upper secondary specialised education.
“Our key objective is to ensure every child receives a high-quality education that is, first, an exciting and inspiring journey, and later – provides real advantages when choosing a future career. The ultimate goal is to shape a successful, confident citizen of Ukraine, capable of fulfilling their potential and contributing to the country’s transformation. The positive example of the Slavuta Lyceum shows that change is possible even under difficult circumstances – and can serve as a strong incentive for other hromadas not to fear innovation. Step by step, we can scale the best practices and build a new quality of education across Ukraine,” – highlighted Olena Popova in her welcoming address.
A key focus of the forum was the practical path taken by Slavuta hromada – from analysing the state of the school network to establishing a single academic lyceum. Elmira Perepelytsia, Head of the Education Department, shared how the community began seeking solutions as early as 2015:
“I saw that in a few years, some villages would only have two first-year pupils. We had to act ahead of time. The reform of specialised secondary education was the logical step forward.”
The dispersal of resources, lack of strong teachers, and absence of competition in upper years drove the hromada to take decisive action. Gradual reduction in the levels of schools, dialogue with parents, strategic planning, and support for educators laid the groundwork for transformation.
A School for Life – Not for the Sake of Paperwork
Svitlana Liskova, Head of the Slavuta Academic Lyceum, emphasised that change must go beyond paperwork to create a truly motivating environment for pupils: “Our task is not just to deliver knowledge but to help every teenager discover their path. We are transforming our communication with students, involving parents in the process, and shaping specialisations based on pupils’ interests.”
Through questionnaires, career guidance sessions, and open meetings with Year 9 students, the lyceum has developed six specialised tracks: Ukrainian philology, biology, foreign languages, mathematics, and a military profile. The school now has 14 specialised classes with an average class size of 32 students.
A Forum About People and Practical Solutions
Forum participants were given the opportunity to explore not only the concept, but also real-life examples of:
- how Slavuta supports teachers during times of change
- how negotiations with parents were conducted
- how transitions for pupils and staff to new institutions were managed
- how updates to material and technical infrastructure are financed
One of the heads of Slavuta’s gymnasiums also shared the challenging but necessary journey their institution underwent during the reform – including the lowering of the school’s level, communication with parents and staff, and the shift in internal perception of the gymnasium’s role in the new system.
Alla Polishchuk, Director of the Centre for Professional Development of Teaching Staff at Slavuta City Council, highlighted teachers’ active participation in national and international educational initiatives, training programmes, and professional competitions and projects. This involvement empowers educators to not only develop personally, but to implement modern approaches in their classrooms – ensuring high-quality education and sustainable change.
Marina Bondarchuk, Deputy Head of Slavuta Vocational Lyceum, presented their experience in engaging with upper secondary students, including career guidance efforts, promoting in-demand vocational professions, and showcasing modern opportunities in vocational education.
Community-Level Support – The Foundation of Reform
“We didn’t wait until 2027 – we wanted our children to have a high-quality educational start right now,” – said Svitlana Liskova. According to her, pupils who previously doubted their abilities are now achieving high scores in the national multi-subject test (MST) and have a clear vision of their future careers.
A special highlight of the event was a lively and sincere dialogue with students from various specialised tracks. The youth shared their impressions of studying at the academic lyceum compared to their earlier experience in gymnasiums – describing their personal achievements, individual learning paths, participation in competitions and projects, and their confidence that these efforts will help them gain admission to their dream universities. They also spoke about the benefits of learning among peers, the support from motivated and friendly teachers, and the positive atmosphere that fosters focus and personal growth.
The Forum as a Space for Inter-Hromada Exchange
The educational forum in Slavuta also served as a platform for inter-hromada knowledge exchange. Representatives of Lubny hromada shared their own approaches and practices that could prove useful to educators from other regions.
In particular, Tetiana Serhiienko, Head of the Matvii Nomys First Gymnasium, spoke about the school’s transformation from a general secondary school to a gymnasium. She emphasised new opportunities for teachers’ professional growth, the importance of early career guidance, and pre-specialised preparation for students. Additionally, she presented their experience in developing an educational brand to increase the institution’s appeal among pupils, parents, and the wider community.
The day concluded with a tour of the newly upgraded Slavuta Lyceum and a group reflection session on the next steps in education development.
“Educational reform is a long game – not a quick win. Only a democratic leadership style, as demonstrated by Slavuta’s leaders, enables difficult decisions to be made and sustainable success to be achieved. Specialised secondary education must be flexible – centred around students’ needs, not system convenience. The goal isn’t just to change a nameplate to ‘Lyceum’, but to build an environment where students have choices, support, modern conditions, and motivation to learn. The lyceum in Slavuta – with its clear vision, strong communication, and stakeholder engagement – shows what that can look like when leaders are brave enough to go first,” – said Oleh Fasolia, education expert of the Polaris Programme.
The Slavuta forum clearly demonstrated: reform of specialised secondary education is not only about curricula – it’s about strategic leadership, trust, ongoing dialogue, and a child-centred approach. These practices show us: real change starts in the hromada.
In his closing remarks, Artem Horobets – Polaris education expert and forum moderator – concluded: “The Slavuta hromada is at the forefront of educational transformation and is moving half a step ahead of the specialised secondary school reform.”
