During a meeting with representatives of foreign countries and international organizations at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Education and Science Pavlo Khobzei presented the reform of the new Ukrainian school.

"A new Ukrainian school must have new content, new programs and a well-trained teacher," emphasized Pavlo Khobzei. He also noted that the secondary school needs radical quality changes, and the 12-year school term is only one of the many components of the secondary school reform. First of all, it is necessary to develop new standards of secondary education and new school programs based on the competence approach, which will prepare the child for life in modern conditions. Today, the Ministry is creating working groups for the development of educational programs and will work in this direction with the support of international partners.

According to Pavel Hobzei, the reform of general secondary education will take place within the framework of decentralization of power. It is on the ground that they decide what the network of schools in the region will be. The deputy minister believes that for the successful implementation of the reform, it is necessary to create a system of effective interaction between local authorities, communities and the Ministry, which will be based, first of all, on trust.

Local self-government bodies will decide where to create support schools, distribute educational subsidized funds and own income between schools, appoint school directors, and resolve issues of material and technical equipment.

Elementary and high school students will study in support schools. Younger students will attend school at their place of residence. Transport of older students and teachers to educational institutions by school buses will be provided by local authorities. The high school will function as an academic lyceum or professional college. Based on the results of the test, children will independently choose where to study after finishing basic school - whether to continue their studies at an academic lyceum, or to go to a professional college and get an additional profession along with general secondary education.

As Pavlo Khobzei reported, today in the regions there is a competition for the best support school. The Ministry has developed criteria and recommendations for conducting this competition and sent them to the regional education management bodies. The Government has allocated 200 million hryvnias to local authorities for the competition for the best project of a support school.

So far, 67 winners for the best supporting school in 11 regions have been determined. By the beginning of the new academic year, it is planned to create 100 support schools in Ukraine.