The document was signed by Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager, and Vitalii Bunechko, Head of the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration.

Zhytomyr region was selected as a partner region for DECIDE Project, and the next five years of joint work will be focused on the restoration and development of education in the communities of Zhytomyr and the region as a whole.

Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager, noted, ‘Our partnership with Zhytomyr region is based on systematic cooperation and trust, and is intended to implement educational reforms and strengthen the capacity of communities to develop quality education. It is about making decisions that allow us to implement meaningful changes that take into account the real needs and interests of pupils. Together, we are building a capable network of lyceums and developing vocational education and modern career guidance, so pupils can make informed choices that are in the best interests of Ukraine.’

Vitalii Bunechko, Head of the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration, emphasised during the signing ceremony, ‘For us, this partnership is not merely support, but a shared responsibility for the quality of education in the region and communities, and for creating a modern, accessible, safe, and, above all, future-oriented education for children.’

Although Zhytomyr region only recently became a partner of DECIDE Project, a number of initiatives have already been implemented between 2024 and 2026Within the framework of this partnership, public discussions were held on aspects of implementing the reform of specialised secondary education, involving educators, administrators, and community representatives.

In particular, DECIDE experts provided advisory support to 18 communities on the implementation of specialised senior school reform – with a focus on specific management decisions. Moreover, 18 communities in the region joined the national pilot of the career guidance system for children and adolescents.

A separate initiative was the DECIDE Summer Clubs project ‘We Are at Home – in Ukraine’. In 2023–2024, three communities in Zhytomyr region joined the initiative: over 1,500 children took part in educational activities, and 56 teachers undertook professional training.

Additionally, as part of the ‘Growing Stronger Together’ initiative, 921 teachers from educational institutions and inclusive resource centres in the region received further training.

Further cooperation up to 2030 envisages systematic support for communities, in particular:

• support for the implementation of specialised senior secondary education reform in terms of establishing a network of academic lyceums and providing advisory support to communities;
• support for the implementation of vocational education reform;
• strengthening cooperation between communities on the joint establishment of academic lyceums (in particular through grant programmes for the creation of new laboratories);
• supporting the updating of regional development strategies with a focus on education; the development of urban agglomerations with a focus on educational services;
• developing a career guidance system for children and adolescents and grant programmes to establish career guidance hubs;
• youth internship programmes in regional state administrations and local councils;
• implementation of the DECIDE Summer Clubs initiative ‘We Are at Home – in Ukraine’;
• professional development programmes for community leaders, heads, and staff of education departments and directorates in all communities across the region.

The next step is the selection of four partner communities for intensive work and implementation of the identified strategic priorities regarding the reform of specialised secondary education and the comprehensive development of education within the communities.

The cooperation will continue until August 2030 within the framework of DECIDE Project Phase 2.

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