Parents of schoolchildren in Bashtanka have spoken out against the suspension of enrolment for upper secondary classes at two lyceums

In Bashtanka, parents are collecting signatures to oppose the suspension of enrolment into Year 10 at two secondary schools. Photo for illustrative purposes from the NikVesti archive

In the town of Bashtanka, parents of pupils have spoken out against the town council’s decision to stop enrolment into Year 10 at two secondary schools. As a result, they have started collecting signatures for a collective petition to the local authorities.

The authors of the petition are publishing the document on Bashtanka’s Facebook groups.

The cause of the outrage was a decision by the Bashtanka City Council on 1 June, which provides for a change in the status of Lyceums №1 and №2 and the suspension of enrolment of pupils into Year 10 for the 2026–2027 academic year. According to the document, from 1 September 2027, the «TEMP» lyceum will change its status and become the Bashtanka Lyceum. It will be responsible for providing specialised secondary education for the community’s senior pupils.

Plan for the transformation of the network of general secondary education institutions of the Bashtanka City Council for the period 2026–2027. Screenshots

Plan for the transformation of the network of general secondary education institutions of the Bashtanka City Council for the period 2026–2027. Screenshots

In a joint appeal to the mayor and councillors, parents state that this decision significantly alters the conditions of their children’s education, and that it was adopted without proper consultation with the community, pupils and teachers.

They emphasise that Lyceums №1 and №2 have the necessary facilities and equipment, are equipped with shelters and can ensure a safe learning environment. At the same time, concentrating all senior pupils in a single school raises doubts about its ability to accommodate all pupils in the community.

Parents also believe that transferring children to another school, breaking up familiar class groups and changing the educational environment could have a negative impact on the emotional well-being of teenagers and the quality of their education.

In their petition, they are demanding that the city authorities provide a detailed justification for the decision, publish calculations regarding the TEMP Lyceum’s capacity to accommodate all senior pupils, hold open public hearings, and suspend the implementation of the decision until the discussion is concluded.

The petition is currently open for signatures.

Parents’ petition. Photo from Facebook

Parents’ petition. Photo from Facebook

What does the upper secondary school reform entail?

The secondary school reform is part of the nationwide educational reform ‘New Ukrainian School’. It involves a transition to a 12-year education system and the division of schools into three levels: primary, basic and secondary.

Upper secondary school (Years 10–12) is to operate in the form of academic or vocational lyceums. In academic lyceums, pupils will choose study streams — humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, etc. — with in-depth study of specific subjects. At the same time, there are plans to consolidate such institutions, which could lead to the closure of upper secondary classes in small communities and the need for daily transport for pupils.

The launch of the upper secondary school reform at the national level is scheduled for 2027. It will mark the next stage in the development of the ‘New Ukrainian School’ educational reform. From this point onwards, Year 9 leavers will be able to continue their studies at academic lyceums, choosing specialised streams and subjects in line with their future careers.

The reform is to be implemented in stages:

• A pilot implementation will take place in 2025–2026. Over the course of two academic years, new educational standards, curricula and materials will be tested in selected institutions.
• The transition phase will run from 2027 to 2029. During this period, the upper secondary school model will be gradually rolled out across the country, with simultaneous refinement of teaching approaches and content.
• The final phase of the reform is scheduled for 2029–2033 — by which time the senior secondary education system is expected to be fully operational in all regions of Ukraine.