On August 20, 2026, as part of the 12th Congress “Education in Donetsk Oblast: Transformation for the Future,” a ceremonial plenary session and a rich, substantive program of professional dialogue took place, bringing together scholars, representatives of local government, heads of educational institutions, education experts, and representatives of partner organizations.
Ihor Haievyi, Director of the Department of Education and Science of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, welcomed the Congress participants. During the plenary session, key guidelines for the development of education in the Donetsk region and Ukraine as a whole were outlined, along with the pressing challenges facing the education system in the context of today’s challenges.
Representatives of state and local education authorities, educational institutions, military education, international programs, labor unions, and the publishing industry shared their best practices and visions for the future development of the education sector.
The Congress continued with substantive expert sessions dedicated to the national identity of the Donetsk region and patriotic education, the digital transformation of education, cybersecurity, and strategies for ensuring the continuity of education—from preschool through vocational training.
A separate session was organized in the form of thematic sections for representatives of local community education authorities, heads of vocational and pre-higher education institutions, as well as directors of professional development centers for educators.
Participants in the sections discussed the implementation of the upper-secondary specialized school reform, the transformation of community education networks, career guidance for children and adolescents, the teaching of the subject “Defense of Ukraine,” the operation of educational institutions under martial law, the professional development of teachers, the use of digital tools, and the strengthening of partnerships in the education sector.
The 12th Congress of Educators of Donetsk Oblast has concluded! Behind us are days filled with professional interaction, open dialogue, and the exchange of ideas; ahead lies their practical implementation: preparations for the implementation of upper-level specialized secondary schools, the development of career guidance for students, methodological support for teachers, and new joint steps toward creating a modern, sustainable, and resilient educational system in Donetsk Oblast—a system that, despite all challenges, not only preserves education but confidently shapes the future of the region and Ukraine.