Ukraine’s education system has faced extraordinary challenges amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

This dire situation has tested the resilience and adaptability of Ukrainian students, teachers and administrators, revealing their remarkable capacity for innovation and perseverance.

Despite all of this, the country is undertaking a major reform of its education system - termed the New Ukrainian School (NUS) - supported by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), to shift its upper secondary education teaching and learning towards competency development and greater student choice.

Looking to the future

Currently, Ukrainian students are typically required to take 11-14 subjects throughout upper secondary education. However, the NUS aims to change teaching and learning by focusing on competency development through active and engaging pedagogy.

This means there is an additional year in upper secondary education that will enable specialisation and choice depending on subject profiles - for example, a student with a specialisation in maths might have a free choice in music or art.

This will enable students to work on what they and the economy value. Furthermore, there will be regular access to careers guidance at school that connects with the subject choices that the labour market needs.

So, from September, around 28-30 ambassador schools in Ukraine are set to pilot elements of the upper secondary reform, in preparation for national implementation in 2027.

International support

To help with this, the OECD is facilitating partnerships between these Ukrainian schools and international schools from countries including Croatia, England, Estonia, France, Ireland, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain and Sweden.

Four of Education South West’s academies were the first to partner with Ukrainian schools to support these crucial education reforms.

These partnerships aim to share practical experiences of student subject options and career guidance, offering direct insights, practical tools and support.

Colleagues across the country have also stepped forward to support Ukrainian schools. It would be great for more schools and trusts to engage in the project, as the OECD looks to partner with over 100 schools in the future - do get in touch.

Face-to-face learning

Of course, reforming education is hard enough in normal times but the challenges facing the sector in Ukraine are immense: frontline regions, in particular, have struggled to maintain regular school days owing to safety concerns and infrastructural damage.

Lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, when schools rapidly switched to distance learning, have meant that teachers were well-versed in remote education by the time of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

However, the Ukrainian government remains committed to resuming face-to-face education wherever possible, recognising its importance for children’s social and academic development.

The government has had to invest hugely in providing schools with adequate shelters to protect students and staff with, almost £50 million earmarked in 2024 for constructing school air-raid shelters, backed by support from international donors.

The resilience of Ukraine’s education system is evident in its community spirit. Teachers have gone above and beyond, creating makeshift classrooms in basements and bomb shelters and utilising online resources to ensure that learning never stops.

Students, too, have shown remarkable adaptability, continuing their studies under challenging and often perilous conditions. Ukraine’s experience highlights the critical role of education in times of crisis. It provides a sense of routine, purpose and hope.

The hope of education

Having recently spoken at an event in Lviv, opened by the first lady, Olena Zelenska, it is clear how important the OECD’s work with Ukrainian schools is to the country and demonstrates how international cooperation and support can drive meaningful change, even in the face of extreme adversity.

At the event, their priority for Ukraine was communicated to me as: war first; education second.

By sharing practical experiences and tools, the international partnerships are helping Ukrainian schools to navigate the current crisis and prepare for a more flexible and student-centred future.

The upper secondary reform, with its focus on student choice and competency development, is a crucial step towards creating an education system that not only survives but thrives in the face of adversity.

Matthew Shanks is CEO of Education South West and is working with the OECD to support ambassador schools in Ukraine

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