The New Ukrainian School (NUS) is a comprehensive education reform initiated in 2016 by the Ministry of
Education and Science of Ukraine. Its primary goal is to modernize the country's general secondary
education system by shifting from an outdated, knowledge-based model to a competency-based, student-
centered approach. The reform, which draws on global best practices, aims to equip students with the
critical thinking, problem-solving, and practical skills necessary for success in the 21st century.
Core Principles and Goals
The NUS reform is built on several key principles that aim to fundamentally transform the educational
process:
Competency-Based Learning: The reform moves away from rote memorization of facts and definitions.
Instead, it focuses on developing a set of key competencies, such as fluency in the state language,
mathematical competency, digital literacy, and civic responsibility. These competencies are intended to be a
dynamic combination of knowledge, skills, values, and personal qualities that enable students to apply what
they learn in real-life situations.
Child-Centered Approach: The reform places the student at the center of the educational process. This
includes promoting a pedagogy of partnership among students, teachers, and parents, and creating a
supportive learning environment where every child feels respected and safe.
Teacher Empowerment: The reform gives teachers more autonomy and opportunities for professional
development. Teachers are encouraged to be creative, design their own curricula, and use interactive,
project-based, and student-centered teaching methods.
Modern Educational Environment: The NUS seeks to create a safe, inclusive, and modern learning space.
This involves updating school facilities, providing new textbooks and technologies, and ensuring equal
access to quality education for all students, including those with special educational needs.
Key Features and Implementation
The implementation of the NUS reform is a phased process that will continue until 2029. It introduces a new
school structure and curriculum:
New School Structure: The reform restructures general secondary education into three levels:
Primary School: Grades 1-4.
Gymnasium: Grades 5-9, for basic secondary education.
Academic Lyceum: Grades 10-12, for specialized secondary education. This new structure will extend the
duration of general secondary education to 12 years, aligning Ukraine's system with many European
countries.
Integrated and Project-Based Learning: The curriculum emphasizes an activity-based approach where
students learn by doing. Integrated courses and projects help students connect different subjects and apply
knowledge to solve real-world problems, providing a more holistic understanding of the world.
Updated Assessment System: The reform is also changing the approach to student assessment, moving
away from a rigid grading system to one that is more focused on providing motivational feedback and
reducing the burden on students.
Challenges and Achievements
Despite the ongoing challenges, particularly those exacerbated by Russia's full-scale invasion, the NUS
reform has made significant progress.
Achievements:
Initial Rollout: The reform successfully covered primary education (grades 1-4) and basic secondary
education (grades 5-6) by the 2023-2024 academic year, benefiting millions of students.
Financial Commitment: The Ukrainian government has allocated billions of UAH for the reform's
implementation, funding initiatives such as new textbooks, teacher training programs, and school
infrastructure improvements.
Resilience During Wartime: In the face of war, the reform has adapted, with a focus on creating safe
learning environments by building bomb shelters in schools and providing support for hybrid and online
learning. Efforts are also being made to address learning losses and provide psychological support to
students and teachers.
Challenges:
War-Related Obstacles: The ongoing war poses significant risks and challenges, including destroyed schools,
a lack of funding for new resources, and the psychological burden on teachers and students.
Teacher and Parental Adaptation: Not all teachers have fully embraced the new methods, with some
preferring traditional approaches. Additionally, some parents are not ready or able to take on the more
active role in their children's education that the reform encourages.
Resource Disparities: While progress has been made, some schools, especially in less-funded areas, still lack
the necessary material and technical resources to fully implement the new curriculum.
In conclusion, the New Ukrainian School reform represents a profound and necessary change in Ukraine's
education system. It aims to foster a generation of innovative and civically-minded individuals capable of
thriving in a modern world. While the journey is complex and faced with immense challenges, the
commitment to its principles lays a strong foundation for a more resilient, inclusive, and effective
educational future for Ukraine.
