Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mykola Trofymenko announced a complete update of the Admission Procedure to higher education institutions in 2026. Changes include the cancellation of motivational letters and a reduction in the number of applications from 15 to 12.
Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mykola Trofymenko announced that 48 universities in Ukraine have agreed to launch "winter admission" to the zero course. This is a preparatory stage for the main admission.
In 2025, the educational ecosystem "Mriya" covered over 2,800 schools and 420,000 users in all 24 regions of Ukraine. It has become a key tool for the digitalization of education, uniting schools, students, parents, and teachers in a single digital environment.
From January 1, 2026, the salaries of pedagogical and scientific-pedagogical staff will increase by 30%. The government has approved a resolution that provides for an increase in official salaries for all pedagogical and scientific-pedagogical staff of state and communal educational institutions.
The Ministry of Education and Science provided detailed information on "winter admission" and preparation for the main admission for applicants.
Ukraine has developed Cabinet of Ministers resolutions that allow recognizing the results of Ukrainian children's education abroad without additional exams. Grades from foreign schools are recognized according to "conversion" scales, and the Ukrainian component can be studied remotely or in foreign centers.
In 2025, a pilot system for delivering textbooks to educational institutions was launched; now schools will receive books directly from publishers. The new model of direct textbook delivery to educational institutions was tested on 30% of the circulation, which amounts to over 2 million copies.
The state has introduced special standard programs for Ukrainian children abroad and in the temporarily occupied territories. This will allow them to study the Ukrainian component and remain in the Ukrainian education system without additional burden.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is developing four different models for increasing teachers' salaries, which could be implemented from September 1. These models involve an increase in workload, no increase in workload, proportional and disproportionate increases for different categories of teachers, with an emphasis on young professionals.
In Ukraine, in 2024 and 2025, there was a significant increase in the number of men aged 25+ in professional pre-higher education. This phenomenon indicates a possible use of education as a way to defer military service.
A draft resolution on the dismissal of Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada. The authors of the document claim that under the slogans of higher education reform, schemes for controlling state property and land plots may be implemented, and also point to financial irregularities in the activities of the Ministry of Education and Science.
The Ministry of Education and Science has published a guide for parents to help them understand the nuances of student assessment in schools. The document explains formative and summative assessment, as well as the structure of the NUS achievement certificate.
The Ministry of Education and Science is launching an experimental project of "zero courses" to prepare for the NMT, where schoolchildren will be able to study for 3-6 months. State support is provided for residents of temporarily occupied territories, veterans, and military personnel, including grants and scholarships.
The Ministry of Education and Science announced the abolition of motivational letters during the 2026 admission campaign, as they have ceased to be an effective selection tool. This decision is part of the updated admission procedure, which provides for transparency of conditions and digitalization of procedures.
The Ministry of Education and Science has submitted a resolution on co-financing joint scientific projects of higher education institutions, scientific institutions, and businesses for public discussion. The state will cover 40% to 60% of the costs, depending on the size of the enterprise.
Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Mykola Trofymenko stated that the NMT format will not change in 2026. This decision is due to the proven effectiveness and transparency of the testing, which ensured equal conditions for admission.
Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyi signed an order to dismiss former MP-bribe-taker Andriy Odarchenko from the post of rector of the State Biotechnological University. The Ministry of Education and Science claims that the rector was dismissed in 2024, but the facts indicate that the dismissal took place recently.
The leadership of the State Biotechnological University receives monthly bonuses, despite a ban due to salary arrears to the staff of over UAH 20 million. These payments have been made since 2022, after Andriy Kudryashov, a protégé of former corrupt MP Andriy Odarchenko, took over the management.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine plans to hold elections for the rector of the State Biotechnological University within the next six months. This decision paves the way for the removal of former MP Andriy Odarchenko from the management of the university after the court found him guilty of bribery and sentenced him to 8 years in prison.
The Ministry of Education and Science plans to dismiss about 50 rectors across Ukraine to renew leadership. However, the Ministry of Education and Science has not yet terminated the contract with ex-MP Andriy Odarchenko, convicted of bribery, who retains influence over the State Biotechnological University.
Parents of first-graders can receive a one-time assistance in two ways.
Andriy Odarchenko, sentenced to 8 years in prison and hiding abroad, continues to control the State Biotechnological University through the administration. The Ministry of Education and Science does not terminate Odarchenko's contract, and the Supervisory Board of the SBU ignores corruption and salary arrears.
In Ukraine, parents will confirm the fact of conducting psychological, pedagogical, and correctional-developmental classes for children with special educational needs. This became possible thanks to changes to the Procedure and conditions for providing subventions, introduced by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1386 of October 29, 2025.
The Ministry of Education and Science approved the position of first vice-rector at the State Biotechnological University for Yevhen Hrytskov. This decision was lobbied by MP Andriy Odarchenko, convicted of bribery, to maintain influence over the university.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is launching a pilot of the "Money Follows the Teacher" policy, which will allow 100,000 pedagogical workers to independently choose and pay for advanced training courses from a virtual account for the amount of UAH 1,500. Registration on the "Vector" platform will begin in December 2025, and training will last until the end of 2026.
The NACP must check the acting rector of the State Biotechnological University, Andriy Kudryashov, due to possible submission of inaccurate data in his 2024 declaration. He did not declare his cohabitant and expensive gifts, the value of which exceeds his annual income.
Despite a guilty verdict and an 8-year prison sentence, MP Andriy Odarchenko remains the rector of the State Biotechnological University. Lawyers consider this a deliberate non-execution of the court's verdict by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
People's Deputy Andriy Odarchenko has been suspended from his duties as head of the Academic Council of the State Biotechnological University. It should be noted that Andriy Odarchenko still has a valid contract with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, despite the court's guilty verdict.
The exact dates of the holidays may vary within the same city or district, as each school can independently decide on the terms.
The educational platform "Mriya" has introduced an AI-powered test generator for teachers. This tool allows educators to quickly create questions based on the curriculum, optimizing lesson preparation.
