In Ukraine, students in grades 10–11 will be able to complete their studies at their school, even if during the education reform it changes its status from a lyceum to a gymnasium. On October 29, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law that should prevent forced transfers of high school students to other educational institutions.
This was reported by the press service of the Verkhovna Rada reported. Bill No. 15082-d was supported by 265 MPs. The document was adopted in principle and as a whole.
The new guarantees apply to schoolchildren who in the 2026/2027 school year receive specialized secondary education under the current two-year senior school program. This concerns students studying according to the 2011 state standard.
As the Ministry of Education and Science explained, current tenth-graders will be able to finish 11th grade next school year and receive a certificate of complete general secondary education at their educational institution, even if by then it becomes a gymnasium.
If the school is merged with another institution, students will be able to complete their studies at the institution that becomes its legal successor.
For schools that are reorganized or converted into gymnasiums, a simplified licensing procedure is provided. Such institutions will be able to temporarily continue teaching high school students, despite the change in their status.
According to the Ministry of Education, the licensing authority must issue or reissue the corresponding license within 10 working days after the application of the educational institution. Passing the usual licensing procedure will not be required.
If the decision is not made within the established period, the license will be considered issued or reissued automatically. Its validity is limited to the end of the 2027/2028 school year.
Chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Innovation Serhiy Babak explained during the consideration of the document that schoolchildren should be able to complete their studies regardless of a change in the organizational status of their educational institution.
The need for legislative changes arose due to the senior school reform, within which part of the existing lyceums are being converted into gymnasiums. According to the new structure of the educational network, gymnasiums are to provide basic secondary education, while specialized training will be concentrated in academic and professional lyceums.
Without a special transitional mechanism, students of schools changing status could face the need to transfer to other institutions to complete 11th grade.
At the same time, the timing of the introduction of 12-year school education does not change. From September 1, 2027, new tenth-graders studying under the New Ukrainian School program will begin to master a three-year specialized program designed for grades 10–12.
In gymnasiums that have received temporary licenses to complete the education of current high school students, new classes under the 12-year program will not be formed.
Separately, the Ministry of Education clarified that lyceums that from September 1, 2026 participate in the piloting of specialized secondary schools will continue to work according to the previously approved model.
Thus, the adopted decision concerns the transition period of the education reform and does not cancel the planned change in the structure of the senior school. The law still needs to go through the signing and official publication procedure.
