Senior school reform launched in Ukraine: what will change for students
A pilot stage of the senior specialized school reform has begun in Ukraine. Starting September 1, 2026, the new education model is being tested in 150 academic lyceums across all regions of the country, with nationwide implementation scheduled for September 1, 2027.
This was reported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. This is the third stage of the "New Ukrainian School" reform: after changes in primary and basic school, the reform moves to the level of grades 10–12.
In the 2026/2027 academic year, more than 10.5 thousand tenth-graders study under the new model in the pilot lyceums. The main difference should be the opportunity for high school students to shape their educational trajectory more independently — to choose a profile, individual subjects, and courses depending on their interests and future plans.
In the 10th grade, students will be given the opportunity to try different areas and decide on their future specialization. In grades 11-12, profiling will be strengthened: more study time is planned to be allocated to in-depth study of selected subjects and elective courses.
A career counseling system is also being introduced in the pilot lyceums. Career education advisors should help students identify their strengths, choose a profile, and plan further education.
By the start of the pilot, the Ministry of Education and Science approved the State Standard for Specialized Secondary Education and a model educational program for grades 10–12. In addition, training of teachers and management teams of lyceums has begun.
After the 9th grade, students will have several educational trajectories. Those planning to enter university will be able to continue their studies in an academic lyceum. An alternative will be obtaining vocational or professional pre-higher education.
The Ministry of Education and Science previously explained that the transition to a new network of educational institutions will be gradual. From September 1, 2027, the academic senior school should fully switch to the new model. Academic lyceums are expected to offer at least three learning profiles related to natural-mathematical, language-literary, or social-humanitarian directions.
At the same time, the state is changing the infrastructure of senior schools. Within the Modern Learning Spaces project, modern laboratories and STEM spaces are being created in 250 institutions of general secondary education in 22 regions, including pilot and future academic lyceums.
To create such spaces, UAH 1.9 billion of state subvention is provided within the World Bank LEARN program, subject to co-financing from local authorities. Funds are directed to laboratory equipment, computer and multimedia equipment, as well as mobile furniture. Communities must finance repairs and infrastructure preparation.
Full-scale implementation of the reform will be phased. New programs for 10th grades should be widely launched from 2027, for 11th grades from 2028, and for 12th grades from 2029.
Based on materials from: Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, MES
