In 2025, the Lviv region may lose more than 50 schools. The largest number of institutions subject to liquidation are located in the Stryi, Sambir and Lviv districts. This is reported by “Espresso.Zahid” with reference to the Department of Education of the Lviv Regional State Administration.
The reason for the mass closures is the cessation of funding for teachers' salaries from the educational subvention for schools with fewer than 45 students. This decision will take effect from September 1, 2025, and from 2026 the subvention will also cease for institutions with fewer than 60 students.
The closure will affect schools in every district of the Lviv region. The largest number of such educational institutions is in the following districts:
- Stryisky,
- Sambirsky,
- Lviv.
The Zarudtsivska Gymnasium of the Lviv Community was also included in the list.
However, the reform will not affect elementary schools - it applies only to institutions with grades 5-11.
If local authorities decide not to finance under-staffed schools on their own, students will be transferred to support educational institutions. Such schools include:
- They have a better material and technical base.
- Provided with more qualified teachers.
- Able to accept a larger number of students.
Students will be provided with free transportation to support schools, which may be located up to 30 kilometers away.
For teachers who lose their jobs in understaffed institutions, there is an opportunity to find employment in support schools.
Support schools open up new opportunities for students due to larger class sizes. This allows for the use of modern teaching methods, such as project work. However, the elimination of under-enrolled schools can be a serious challenge for rural communities, where schools are not only educational but also social centers.
In addition, the distance to support schools can be a problem for students from remote villages, especially in conditions of poor road conditions and underdeveloped infrastructure.
Local communities can maintain understaffed schools if they find the funds to finance them on their own. However, for many village councils, this will become an unbearable financial burden.
The next stage of the reform involves increasing the minimum number of students to 60. In the Lviv region, 53 more educational institutions fall under this requirement. This means that over the next two years, the number of schools subject to liquidation may increase significantly.
