Ukrainian high schools will transition to a new specialized education model

Ukrainian lyceums will transition to a new model of specialized education

The government has approved updated regulations on lyceums, introducing a three-year specialized secondary education program with a clear academic focus and new teaching approaches. The changes will be implemented in phases: starting September 1, 2026, for 150 pilot institutions, and starting September 1, 2027, for all academic lyceums in the country. The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has announced the updated rules for organizing the educational process.

According to the document, lyceums must offer at least three specialized tracks in the natural sciences and mathematics, languages and literature, or social sciences and humanities clusters. Students will have the opportunity to shape their individual educational path through elective components and will be able to change their track upon request. For assessment, institutions will be able to use a point-based, level-based scale, or a “pass/fail” system.

Primary and basic education levels within the lyceum structure will operate only as an exception, subject to the founder’s decision. Admission to 10th grade will be competitive only if the number of applications exceeds the number of available spots. Lyceums will also be able to establish centers for teaching the subject “Defense of Ukraine” and collaborate with universities, while the format of instruction will be determined based on the security situation and the availability of shelters due to Russian aggression.