The Ministry of Education and Science is launching a major overhaul of high schools; new laboratories will be installed in schools
Ukrainian lyceums are preparing for a major overhaul that will transform the approach to teaching the natural sciences and STEM disciplines. The government has already identified the first schools that will receive funding for modern laboratories and new educational spaces. This was reported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has approved the first wave of specialized high schools that will receive state funding in 2026 to create modern laboratories and STEM spaces. The relevant decision is enshrined in Ministry of Education and Science Order No. 818 dated May 21, 2026, and the total funding amounts to 459.3 million hryvnias.
The upgrades will primarily affect physics, chemistry, biology, and integrated science classrooms. The ministry explains that the main idea behind the reform is simple—to give students the opportunity not only to learn theory but also to apply it in practice. “The main goal is to provide schools with equipment that will allow students not only to acquire theoretical knowledge but also to apply it in practice through research and experiments,” the ministry noted.
The selection of lyceums was based on a ranking system. Evaluations considered not only student enrollment but also safety conditions, the level of teacher training, experience in specialized education, collaboration with universities and employers, as well as the extent to which communities are willing to co-fund projects.
Logistics were also taken into account separately—whether students and teachers can reach the lyceums, as well as whether it is possible to arrange for students to stay in dormitories.
The Ministry of Education and Science emphasizes that 2026 will be a pivotal year for modernizing school infrastructure. This involves not only new equipment but also updating furniture, renovating facilities, and creating a modern educational environment.
In total, the 2026 state budget allocates 3.2 billion hryvnias for school modernization. Of this amount, 1.2 billion hryvnias will go toward pilot specialized high schools, 1.3 billion hryvnias toward renovating educational spaces in gymnasiums, and another 700 million hryvnias toward future academic lyceums, which will join the new specialized education network starting in 2027.
The list of educational institutions that will receive funding in the first wave is now available for review.
