Conceptual Foundations for the Upper Secondary Education Transformation in the Context of Ukrainian School Reform

The introduction of the concept of the New Ukrainian School provides for the transformation of the national system of full-time general secondary education on a new conceptual basis for all its levels, including at the level of upper secondary education. The strategic function of the final stage of secondary education is to provide educational applicants with the opportunity to meet their educational needs depending on their future life plans – continuing their studies or obtaining a profession. Therefore, upper secondary education should be based on the principles of deep individualization and differentiation of learning, considering students’ needs and interests, their abilities and life intentions of self-realization. Based on the generalization of domestic and foreign experience, the article presents the main conceptual foundations for the introduction of upper secondary education in two areas – academic and professional. In the content of education, it is proposed to distinguish two components: 1) the core of general education training, which is mandatory for all those who receive a full-time secondary education; 2) content that, depending on the direction, provides in-depth mastery of profile-oriented knowledge, competencies, methods of activity, etc. The first component can be reflected in four areas: Language and Literature, STEM, Social and Humanitarian Education, physical development and security. The second component, depending on the direction, is implemented by specialized subjects studied in depth, or professionally oriented disciplines for institutions of vocational and professional pre-higher education. In accordance with this division of content, educational institutions create educational/educational-professional programs in agreement with the selected training profiles, professions or specialties. To meet the educational needs of applicants for education, local selfgovernment bodies form a network of upper secondary education institutions of various types (academic and professional lyceums, colleges, specialized education institutions), which function mainly separately or in combination with other educational institutions and establishments.