Ukraine is changing its approach to senior secondary education: students are being given more time for subjects that align with their interests and future career paths. From September 2026, an updated senior profile school model will be piloted in 150 academic lyceums, and in 2027, the reform is planned to scale to more than 2,000 educational institutions nationwide. While core subjects remain mandatory, the allocation of instructional time will shift in favor of specialized courses.
Pilot Launch and Scaling Plan
Starting in September 2026, a new learning model will be tested in 150 academic lyceums. According to the Ministry of Education and Science, the experience gained by these schools will help prepare for the national rollout of the senior profile school. In 2027, the authorities intend to extend the reform to over 2,000 academic lyceums, allowing a significant number of high schoolers to switch to updated programs.
Profiling and Focus on Practice
In 10th grade, students will have the opportunity to explore different learning profiles, and in 11th and 12th grades, they will study chosen subjects in greater depth. Simultaneously, the number of practical sessions will increase: during natural science lessons, students will be able to formulate hypotheses, conduct experiments, analyze results, and draw conclusions independently. To support practical learning, schools are receiving modern laboratories and STEM spaces — the Modern Learning Spaces project currently covers 250 educational institutions across 22 regions of Ukraine.
Changing the Assessment System
The approach to assessment is also shifting: teachers will evaluate not just the correctness of an answer, but also the process by which a student reached it, including their ability to test assumptions and correct errors. Designed to shift the focus from rote memorization to research and argumentation, this format is supported by professional guidance. School teams, with expert assistance, determine how to set up rooms and what furniture and equipment are required for research and practical training, receiving support in organizing educational spaces to meet their specific needs.
Teacher Support and School Readiness Context
In implementing these changes, the Ministry of Education and Science is providing methodological support and teacher training to assist educators in transitioning to new curricula and working formats. The reform aligns with broader efforts to prepare schools for modern conditions: it was previously reported that over 90% of Ukrainian schools are capable of operating autonomously during power outages lasting more than eight hours, although readiness levels vary significantly by region. Concurrently, interest in specialized education is rising, with 172,365 students enrolled in professional pre-higher education institutions this year, an increase of 38,000 compared to 2025.
