On 16–17 April, a workshop on 'Development of Education in Communities' was held in Zhytomyr. The event was organised within the framework of professional training for heads of education departments in the communities of the region and marked the final stage of a professional development programme, which had been running in a blended format since 30 March, covered 17 topics, and engaged representatives from 66 communities.

Key speakers at the event included:

• Nadiia Kuzmychova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine;
• Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager;
• DECIDE Project National Experts: Serhii Yatskovskyi, Mariia Drobot (Mishchenkova), Yana Brusentsova, Nadiia Balabust, Kateryna Nemyrovska;
• Anna Morenko, Coordinator of the Education Environment Sector at the NUS Implementation Office.

The event was held in the format of a live dialogue. During the meeting, heads of education departments in Zhytomyr region raised a number of questions, including:

• requirements for the minimum number of students in senior grades;
• ensuring the accessibility of lyceums, taking into account the condition of the road infrastructure;
• establishing boarding schools and using the halls of residence of vocational education institutions for students from remote communities;
• the use of subsidies and the possibility of attracting external resources to upgrade educational infrastructure;
• forms of cooperation between communities;
• completion of full general secondary education by pupils currently in grade 9.

Besides the key aspects of implementing the reform of specialised secondary education, DECIDE Project experts highlighted issues of regulatory support, the development of a capable network of educational institutions and its funding, labour relations, strategic planning, public procurement, transparency and integrity in education management, as well as other topics.

Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager, presented opportunities for cooperation with Zhytomyr region within the framework of Phase 2 of the Project.

DECIDE experts paid particular attention to the development of the career guidance system. This is a key precondition for the reform, as it helps students make informed choices about their educational and career paths.

The programme included study visits to educational institutions in Zhytomyr, where the participants saw practical examples of the transformation of the educational environment, both academic and vocational:

• S. Kovalchuk Lyceum No. 12 in Zhytomyr;
• Vocational College of Technical Innovations in Zhytomyr.

The training programme has been approved by the National Agency of Ukraine for Civil Service (NAUCS) and awards 2 ECTS credits (60 hours).

The participants shared their thoughts on how beneficial the training was:

‘We would like to sincerely thank DECIDE team for organising a meaningful and relevant seminar-workshop on education reform. The event became an important platform for professional dialogue, the exchange of experience, and the acquisition of practical tools necessary for implementing changes in the education sector,’ says Iryna Blokhina, Head of the Education Department at the Luhyn Settlement Council.

‘We want to say thank you to DECIDE team for running such a really informative workshop. It wasn’t just a meeting — it was a space for development, sharing experiences, new ideas, and inspiration,’ says Zinaida Liakhovych, Head of the Education Department at the Yarunska Community.

‘We are sincerely grateful to the organisers for the useful consulting sessions. With their energy and professionalism, DECIDE team encourages active action, offers guidance, provides advice, and inspires. Our special thanks for the useful materials and presentations,’ says Iryna Kahukina, Deputy Head of the Education Department of the Korosten City Council.