Ministry of Education and Science deepens cooperation with Finland to support key reforms and the development of Ukrainian education
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Government of Finland continue their strategic partnership aimed at supporting key reforms in secondary education.
To strengthen cooperation, a bilateral meeting was held with the participation of Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyi, First Deputy Minister Yevhen Kudriavets, and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development of Finland Ville Tavio. During the meeting, the parties discussed the interim results of joint projects, identified priorities and outlined opportunities for further expansion of cooperation in key areas:
Support for the implementation of the ‘Profiled’ reform of upper secondary education
This year, Ukraine and Finland signed an agreement on the implementation of the Learning Together 2 programme with funding of up to EUR 20 million. The programme provides for: professional development of teachers and principals in accordance with the principles of the New Ukrainian School, support for schools in the development and implementation of curricula for specialised subjects, and the development of social programmes to support teachers, administrators and students using a trauma-informed approach. The programme is scheduled to start in January 2026.
Development of school meal reform
The Ministry of Education and Science presented its vision for the further implementation of school meal reform and outlined the needs for its scaling up. In particular, in the following areas: expansion of free meal programmes for children, modernisation of kitchens, food units and factory kitchens,
as well as training chefs and creating culinary hubs in the regions. Finland is one of the key partners in the reform and provides support through the UN World Food Programme.
Participation in the Civil Protection Shelter Coalition
A separate part of the meeting was devoted to Finland's participation in the international Civil Protection Shelter Coalition for Ukraine. The parties discussed cooperation aimed at making educational institutions safe spaces and restoring opportunities for face-to-face learning, particularly in frontline and border areas.
The meeting took place during the delegation's visit to the Ukrainian Humanitarian Lyceum of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Since September 1, the institution has been piloting senior school reform and demonstrating examples of a modern educational environment. The lyceum is one of 30 pioneers. The second phase of the pilot programme will begin on 1 September 2026, involving approximately 150 lyceums.
The Ministry of Education and Science expresses its gratitude to the Government of Finland for its steadfast support, willingness to expand cooperation, and contribution to the development of Ukrainian education. Joint initiatives help strengthen the education system and create new opportunities for students, despite the war.