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Organisation of single-structure education
Ukraine

Ukraine

5.Single-structure primary and lower secondary education

5.1Organisation of single-structure education

Last update: 31 December 2024

Geographical accessibility

In Ukraine, every child has the right to receive primary and lower (basic) secondary education in an educational institution (or its branch) that is most accessible and closest to their place of residence (Закон України ‘Про освіту’). It may be in a state or municipal educational institution that covers the territory of services where the child lives. Another option is a private educational institution, regardless of the place of residence.

State authorities and local self-government bodies ensure territorial accessibility of primary and basic secondary education. To properly and effectively determine and assign a territory of services to an educational institution, local executive authorities or local self-government bodies keep records of preschool and school-age children. They take into account the capacity of each educational institution and the demographic situation in the relevant territory. If necessary, they ensure the creation of additional classes (Закон України ‘Про повну загальну середню освіту’). They also organise transportation of learners to and from the educational institution using local budget funds. It is mandatory to ensure the availability of appropriate transport for persons with visual and hearing problems, and persons with limited mobility. According to the Sanitary Regulations for secondary education institutions, learners who live more than 2 km from the school are provided with transport. The founders of the school decide how to organise this following the requirements of the law.

Pupils obtain primary and basic secondary education in Ukraine in the following institutions:

  • Primary school for primary education;

  • Gymnasium for lower secondary education.

Primary schools and gymnasiums can function as separate legal entities or as structural units of another educational institution.

 

Admission requirements and choice of school

Local executive authorities or local self-government bodies enrol children in educational institutions. They assign appropriate territories of services to general secondary education institutions (GSEIs) and register learners for attendance before the beginning of the school year. If the number of applications for enrolment in an educational institution exceeds its capacity, the institution's administration organises additional classes. If this is not possible, authorities provide parents with a list of educational institutions that are accessible and located close to their residence.

If parents wish to apply for their children to other educational institutions, they can only do so if these institutions have free places. This follows the Procedure for enrolment, expulsion and transfer of pupils to state and municipal schools for obtaining complete general secondary education (Порядок зарахування, відрахування та переведення учнів до державних та комунальних закладів освіти для здобуття повної загальної середньої освіти).

All the relevant information is published on the educational institution's notice board and website. If the institution does not have a website, the information is published on the website of the overseeing authority. This includes the service area assigned to the institution, its capacity, the number of pupils in each class and the availability of free places in each of them. 

The head of a GSEI enrols pupils through an official order based on the following documents:an application from a parent or legal guardian, a copy of the child's birth certificate, a standard medical certificate and a relevant document on education (except for first-grade pupils). Children whose residence is confirmed within the institution’s service area are enrolled without any tests. Children from outside the service area can be enrolled in vacant places through a random selection process.

Enrolment in grade 5 (basic secondary education) at an educational institution with a primary school occurs after an order is issued to transfer pupils from grade 4. The procedure for enrolling pupils in available vacant places is as follows:

  • Before the beginning of the school year: children with the right to priority enrolment;

  • During the school year: in the order of receipt of applications for enrolment.

In the event of the creation of an additional grade 5, enrolment in vacant places may require competitive selection.

Enrolment in grade 5 at an educational institution offering basic secondary education is based on applications submitted by parents by 31 May. If the number of applications does not exceed the total number of places available, competitive selection is not required and all children are enrolled by an order issued on 1 June. If the number of applications exceeds the available places, the educational institution publishes an announcement about competitive selection by 1 June. The selection process must be completed, and the enrolment order issued, by 15 June. After 15 June, enrolment for available places (if any) is determined by the results of the competitive selection process.

 

Age levels and grouping of pupils

Primary education is the first level of complete general secondary education. It corresponds to the first level of the National Qualifications Framework and is classified as ISCED 1.

In primary school, a primary teacher teaches all main subjects. They are responsible for a group of pupils within a class and organise the educational process for that class, usually from grade 1 to grade 4. There are also separate teachers for certain subjects, such as physical education, English, computer science and others.

In Ukraine, primary education usually begins at the age of 6.

Basic secondary education (grades 5-9) corresponds to the second level of the National Qualifications Framework and is classified as ISCED 2.

Classes and/or groups are formed to organise the educational process in GSEIs. The groups include special, inclusive, with instruction in the language of the indigenous people or national minorities in Ukraine along with the state language.

The head of an educational institution creates a special class in consultation with the institution's founder or a founder-authored body.

An inclusive class is formed when parents of a pupil with special educational needs request it.

Classes with instruction in the language of indigenous people or national minorities in Ukraine along with state language are opened if there is a sufficient number of applications from parents of learners.

The minimum number of pupils in a class at a state or municipal educational institution is 5. The number of pupils in class for primary school is no more than 24 persons. For the basic secondary education, it is no more than 30 persons.

A primary school can provide primary education to pupils of the same or different ages. They may study in one combined class (class-set) or in different classes. One or more teachers can lead the educational process in such classes, including separate teachers for subjects. Whenever possible, lessons in such classes are held in one subject (integrated course), with integrated content of the educational material.

Such classes are created when one or more primary school classes cannot be created for some reason. This may be due to demographics or other circumstances. It means that a class has less than 5 pupils. A combined class needs to have more than 5 but less than 12 pupils. The formation of combined classes is not compulsory. It is up to the educational institution to decide (Положення про з’єднаний клас (клас-комплект) початкової школи).

A class in a state or municipal educational institution may be divided into a maximum of three groups. Each group should have at least 8 pupils. The aim is to ensure the proper quality of the study of individual subjects (integrated courses). The central executive body in the field of education and science determines the procedure for dividing classes into groups. Interclass groups may be formed to study academic subjects, courses and integrated courses. They include pupils from different classes or grades. The head of the educational institution assigns learners between classes (groups). 

 

Organisation of the school year

The school year in GSEIs in Ukraine begins on 1 September. It is called the Day of Knowledge. It lasts at least 175 school days and ends no later than 1 July of the following year.The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine annually determines the duration of the school year, its beginning and/or end date in a corresponding resolution.

Classes are organised according to the semester system: 

  • First semester: 1 September to the end of the calendar year.

  • Second semester: from the beginning of the calendar year to 31 May. 

Schools have autumn, winter and spring holidays during the school year. The summer holidays end on 31 August. The duration of holidays in educational institutions within the school year cannot be less than 30 calendar days. Grade 1 pupils may have an additional one-week holiday in February.

Local executive authorities or local self-government bodies draw up an indicative holiday schedule for the school year. Educational institutions may adapt this schedule. Autumn holidays usually fall in the last week of October, winter holidays - in the last week of December and the first week of January, and spring holidays - in the last week of March. 

Organisation of the school day and week

The pedagogical council of the educational institution determines the structure and duration of the school day and week. It defines the classes, the breaks between them and the forms of organising the educational process. The educational programme offers its general time based on the study load established by the relevant curriculum. It takes into account the age, physical and intellectual development of children, regional characteristics, etc. 

The duration of a lesson for a pupil in primary school cannot exceed 35 minutes in the first year of study. It is 40 minutes for years two to four and 45 minutes for years five to nine, except in cases defined by Ukrainian legislation.

Lessons can start at 8 am, 8.30 am or 9 am. Schools usually have five or more lessons a day. The starting times of lessons and the duration of breaks may vary between different GSEIs. Detailed information can be found on the GSEI website.