Summer 2026 is drawing to a close, and Ukrainian schoolchildren are preparing to return to their desks. The Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) has officially published the structure of the new 2026/2027 school year, including the approximate schedule for autumn, winter, and spring holidays. The information was released by the KCSA press office with reference to Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 847 of 1 July 2026, which defines the duration of the school year in general secondary education institutions under martial law.
Structure of the school year and the semester system
According to the approved document, the school year in the capital's schools will run from 1 September 2026 to 30 June 2027. Most general secondary education institutions in Kyiv operate on a semester system, which determines the logic behind the distribution of holiday periods. The KCSA Department of Education and Science, together with the Association of School Heads of Ukraine, has prepared a recommended holiday schedule, which is indicative in nature and may be adjusted at the level of individual educational institutions depending on local conditions.
Key dates: additional holidays and the 'Last Bell'
Additional holidays from 15 to 21 February 2027 are provided for first-grade students — a measure aimed at easing the adaptation of younger schoolchildren. The ceremonial 'Last Bell' event in the capital's general secondary education institutions is recommended to be held on 28 May 2027. During the period from 31 May to 30 June 2027, schools may organise additional educational and developmental activities for students.
Safety as the highest priority
'Under martial law, the safety of all participants in the educational process remains the highest priority,' emphasised Elena Fidanian, Director of the KCSA Department of Education and Science. According to her, depending on the operational security situation in each specific district, the forms of learning, class schedules, and the organisation of holiday periods may be adjusted. Regional and Kyiv City military (state) administrations, together with the founders of educational institutions, are responsible for ensuring the start of the school year taking into account safety in each administrative-territorial unit.
Support for students and teachers: from 'knowledge circles' to mental health
In the new school year, particular attention will be paid to overcoming the educational losses accumulated during the full-scale war. The Department recommends that schools expand the network of 'knowledge circles,' which will help students restore and consolidate missed topics. When organising the educational process, it is also recommended to take into account the results of the 2026 monitoring studies. The role of the educational institutions' psychological services and the support of teachers' mental health is separately emphasised. An important direction remains the support of children who are forced to stay outside Ukraine: for this purpose, a Ukrainian studies component is provided in the capital's schools, aimed at preserving national identity.
Pedagogical practices and managerial decisions
In conclusion, the KCSA Department of Education and Science recommends that educational institutions actively use modern pedagogical and managerial practices developed by the capital's teachers and specialists of the Postgraduate Education Institute of the Kyiv City University named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky. This demonstrates the capital's education system's drive not merely to adapt to wartime conditions, but to systematically develop the quality of teaching and the management of the educational process.
