At the invitation of the European Vergeland Center, a study visit to Oslo was held to mark the 10th anniversary of the “Democratic School” program. As part of a delegation of 12 educators from across Ukraine, Tetyana Filipenko, head of the Education Department of the Kurakhiv City Council and a program trainer, presented the experience of the Donetsk region.
The packed program included work at the Vergeland Center itself, visits to Norwegian schools, expert discussions, and an exploration of the administrative and pedagogical approaches of the Norwegian education system. In particular, the Kolbotn Adaptation School left a deep impression; there, the key focus is on mental health, safety, supporting identity, and the gentle integration of displaced children, and the teachers there gave our Ukrainian colleagues an exceptionally warm welcome.
The main principles that the delegation members brought back with them are school autonomy, team cohesion, and the minimization of bureaucratic control. The next step is to adapt the best international practices to the Ukrainian context and implement them in schools.