The New Ukrainian School (NUS) is the main reform of general secondary education in Ukraine. It aims to improve the quality of education and provide equal learning opportunities for all pupils. The reform introduces competence-based learning, a child-centred approach and a 12-year school structure. It develops key competences, including critical thinking, civic responsibility and lifelong learning skills.
The NUS also supports teacher professional development, gives schools more autonomy and improves the learning environment. It strengthens cooperation between teachers, pupils and parents and brings Ukrainian school education closer to European approaches.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) coordinates the reform. Other central authorities, local authorities, school founders and education institutions implement its measures within their powers.
2026
Pilot of specialised upper secondary education
On 1 September 2026, Ukraine started the next stage of the pilot of specialised upper secondary education. A total of 150 academic lyceums are taking part.
The pilot tests the new model of three-year specialised upper secondary education in grades 10-12. Pupils can choose academic profiles, subjects and elective courses according to their interests and future plans.
The MESU continues to prepare educational programmes and learning materials for grades 10-12. It also supports teacher training and career guidance.
The MESU coordinates the reform with regional and local authorities. Local authorities and school founders prepare lyceum networks, staff, learning spaces and equipment.
The pilot prepares the education system for the nationwide implementation of specialised upper secondary education from 1 September 2027.
Updated primary education programme
The MESU has issued the Order On the Approval of the Standard Educational Programme for Grades 1-4 of General Secondary Education Institutions (Про затвердження Типової освітньої програми).
The programme defines the structure of the curriculum and the distribution of learning time. It also gives schools flexibility to adapt their educational programmes to pupils’ needs.
Before approval, the MESU held a public consultation. A survey conducted in February 2026 collected responses from 17 481 primary school teachers.
The MESU used the consultation results to improve the programme. This process also provided a mechanism for monitoring teachers’ views and practical needs.
Continued implementation of the School Offline policy
In 2026, Ukraine continued the School Offline policy (Школа офлайн). It aims to provide access to safe in-person education where the security situation allows and to improve distance education where in-person learning is not possible.
The policy combines several measures, including school shelters, school transport, digital devices and changes to the school network. It also supports different forms of education for children who live abroad, in temporarily occupied territories or away from their home communities.
The MESU coordinates the policy with regional and local authorities. Local authorities and school founders organise safe learning conditions, transport and the operation of school networks.
The MESU monitors access to in-person education and safe learning conditions as part of the implementation of the policy.
2025
Preparation for the specialised upper secondary education pilot
The Government launched an experimental project to prepare for the introduction of three-year specialised upper secondary education in grades 10-12. The second stage of the pilot will start on 1 September 2026 (Про реалізацію експериментального проєкту).
In October 2025, the MESU started selecting schools for the second stage of the pilot. The selection considers the school structure, number of pupils, planned profile clusters and specific features of the institution. Participating schools must also meet requirements for safe learning conditions.
The pilot will test the State Standard for Specialised Upper Secondary Education and the new content and structure of three-year specialised education. Full implementation will start on 1 September 2027.
The MESU coordinates the pilot. Local authorities and school founders support participating institutions and prepare their school networks.
Conceptual frameworks for education areas
On 20 August 2025, the MESU approved the conceptual frameworks for education areas and the roadmap for their implementation for 2025-2030 (Про затвердження концептуальних засад).
The frameworks define how learning in ten education areas will develop from grades 1 to 12. They support competence-based learning and stronger links between primary, basic and specialised upper secondary education.
The roadmap sets the main stages of implementation. The MESU will use the frameworks to update curricula and learning materials and to support teacher professional development.
The MESU coordinates implementation with education institutions, experts and other partners.
Updated State Standard for Primary Education
In December 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the updated State Standard for Primary Education through Resolution (Про затвердження Державного стандарту початкової освіти). Its implementation requires new educational programmes and teaching materials.
The Standard defines the compulsory learning outcomes and competences for pupils in grades 1-4. It strengthens competence-based, activity-based and child-centred learning.
The MESU coordinates preparations for implementation. Schools, teacher training institutions and other education bodies develop programmes, materials and professional development activities.
The Government funds implementation through the state and local budgets. The MESU monitors preparations through programme development, teacher training and feedback from schools.
Funding for the New Ukrainian School
In 2025, the state budget provided UAH 2.15 billion for the New Ukrainian School reform. The Government allocated UAH 2 billion for classroom equipment (Постанова КМУ від 31.12.2024 №1554).
The Government allocated another UAH 150 million for teacher professional development (Постанова КМУ від 27.12.2024 №1513).
Local authorities and school founders use the funding to equip learning spaces. The funding for professional development supports school leaders, teachers, teacher trainers and supervisors involved in the NUS reform.
The MESU coordinates the implementation of the subventions.
Digital teaching and learning resources
During 2025, the MESU expanded digital support for teaching and learning. Teachers received access to digital learning materials, assessment tools and competence-based tasks.
Digital resources linked to textbooks supported in-person, blended and distance learning. They also helped schools continue the learning process during wartime disruptions.
The MESU coordinated the development of digital resources with education institutions and development partners. Feedback from teachers and schools supported further improvement of these resources.
2024
In 2024, Ukraine continued the NUS reform. The main priorities included specialised upper secondary education, school safety, updated educational content, assessment, school nutrition and professional support for teachers.
The Strategic Plan of the MESU until 2027 ‘Education of Winners’ (Освіта переможців) defines the main goals for the further implementation of the NUS. They include a safe, modern and inclusive learning environment, quality education based on NUS principles, educational content adapted to the challenges of war and stronger cooperation between teachers, pupils and parents.
Framework for specialised upper secondary education
On 10 October 2024, the MESU approved the Conceptual Framework for Reforming Specialised Secondary Education (Academic lyceums) (Про затвердження Концептуальних засад).
The Framework defines the transition to three-year specialised upper secondary education in grades 10-12. It sets requirements for academic lyceums and the development of their networks. Pupils will choose an academic or vocational pathway. Academic lyceums will offer different profiles, elective subjects and individual educational pathways.
On 25 July 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the State Standard for Specialised Upper Secondary Education (Про затвердження Державного стандарту). The Standard covers grades 10-12 in academic lyceums, vocational education and training institutions and professional pre-higher education institutions. Full implementation will start on 1 September 2027.
The MESU coordinates the reform. Local authorities prepare school networks, while education institutions prepare programmes, staff and infrastructure.
School Offline policy and school safety
In 2024, Ukraine continued the School Offline policy. It aims to return more pupils to in-person education where security conditions allow.
The policy supports the construction and repair of school shelters, school transport and distance education. In 2024, the Government allocated UAH 2.35 billion to 57 shelter projects in frontline and border regions. It also allocated UAH 1 billion for school buses.
The MESU coordinates the policy with regional and local authorities. Local authorities and school founders implement infrastructure and transport projects.
In 2024, Ukraine expanded the pilot project to strengthen security in general secondary schools (Про реалізацію експериментального проєкту).
The MESU of Internal Affairs and the National Police coordinate the school security service. By November 2024, 950 school security officers were working in general secondary schools.
The MESU also introduced the Electronic Security Passport of an Educational Institution (Паспорт безпеки закладу освіти). Schools enter information about their location, territory, security equipment and fire safety. The Administrative Information Complex for Education (AICEM) stores these data.
The National Police and the State Emergency Service use the information to assess risks and plan safety measures.
School nutrition reform
In 2024, Ukraine continued the school nutrition reform. It aims to provide safe and healthy meals and modernise school kitchens and canteens.
The Government allocated UAH 1.5 billion to modernise food service facilities. It selected 173 projects for implementation. The Government also allocated UAH 2 billion to provide free meals for all primary school pupils.
On 14 May 2024, the MESU approved the Standard Educational Programme for Advanced Training of Heads of Educational Institutions in the Field of Implementation of School Nutrition Reform (Про затвердження Типової освітньої програми). The programme covers menu planning, food safety, quality control and cooperation with parents.
The MESU, other central authorities and local authorities coordinate the reform. Local authorities and school founders organise school meals and modernise food service facilities.
Assessment of primary school pupils
In 2024, Ukraine piloted a new format of state final assessment for primary school pupils.
On 24 January 2024, the MESU approved a pilot state final assessment of primary school graduates in the form of external independent assessment (Про проведення пілотної державної підсумкової атестації).
Around 2 000 grade 4 pupils took part in the pilot in April and May 2024. They completed tasks in Ukrainian language, mathematics and reading. The Ukrainian Centre for Educational Quality Assessment analyses the results and uses them to improve the assessment materials.
Updating educational content
In 2024, the MESU updated several areas of general secondary education. These changes support the competence-based approach of the New Ukrainian School.
On 9 August 2024, the MESU made the Standard Educational Programme for grades 5-9 more flexible (Про внесення змін до типової освітньої програми). Schools received more options for combining subjects and integrated courses.
On 30 July 2024, the MESU approved the Conceptual Framework for Reforming History Education (Про затвердження концептуальних засад). It defines how pupils study history at different stages of school education.
On 8 August 2024, the MESU approved the updated ‘Defence of Ukraine. Integrated course.’ (Захист України. Інтегрований курс). The programme develops practical safety, first aid and civic competences. All pupils study common content regardless of gender.
The MESU also updated its recommendations on education under martial law (Про внесення змін у методичні рекомендації). The recommendations help Ukrainian schools recognise learning outcomes of pupils who temporarily study abroad.
Financial literacy
In 2024, Ukraine strengthened financial education for school pupils.
On 1 May 2024, the National Securities and Stock Market Commission approved the National Strategy for the Development of Financial Literacy until 2030 (Національна стратегія розвитку фінансової грамотності).
The Strategy supports new learning materials and updated curricula. It also introduces the compulsory course ‘Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy’. Schools will introduce the course in grade 8 from 2025 and in grade 9 from 2026.
Professional support for teachers
In 2024, the MESU introduced new measures to support teachers during the implementation of the New Ukrainian School.
On 29 August 2024, the MESU approved the new Professional Standard ‘Teacher of a General Secondary Education Institution’ (Вчитель закладу загальної середньої освіти). The Standard defines teachers’ professional competences and possible routes to professional qualifications.
On 14 June 2024, the MESU approved the Procedure for Providing Professional Support and Assistance to Teachers (Supervision) (Порядок надання професійної підтримки). Supervision provides professional support based on teachers’ needs and education standards.
The MESU coordinates these measures with education authorities and teacher training institutions.