The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine hosted an expert dialogue focused on enhancing physical education. This event was organized in collaboration with the Small Academy of Sciences, JuniorS, UNIT.City, and the NGO "Education 360" under the initiative "Education for Life", which supports the NUSH reform. The Ministry gathered experts to discuss modern teaching approaches in physical education.
The event was opened by Deputy Minister Nadia Kuzmychova, who emphasized the need to adapt physical education to current challenges such as the war and the effects of the pandemic. She noted that the outcomes of the meeting will be incorporated into new concepts to be published in spring 2025. Pilot implementation of the updated curriculum will begin in the fall of 2025 for the 5th grade across three educational areas: arts, technology, and natural sciences.
The program included two panel discussions. The first, on the topic of “The Goals of Physical Education”, was moderated by Oleksandr Pedan, who led a Q&A session with teachers alongside Deputy Minister Nadia Kuzmychova and Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Serhii Tymofiev.
“Physical education in schools is not just a lesson; it's the foundation of a healthy future. It should be about engagement, not in quantitative terms, but in inspiring every student to move. While not everyone can meet standards due to individual differences, education must consider these nuances, uncovering each child's strengths in line with the spirit of the NUSH reform,” stated Nadia Kuzmychova.
The second panel discussion focused on “The Graduate Profile: How Should Physical Education Prepare Children for a Changing World?”. Participants included:
- Kyrylo Yevtushenko — managing partner at Unit.city;
- Oleksandr Sekirin — founder of the “All Stars” dance school;
- Maria Pavlichuk — co-founder of the NGO “JuniorS”.
Experts emphasized the importance of a practical approach to physical education, enabling students to learn how to stay active in the modern world, develop lifelong healthy habits, and find sports or activities that inspire them.
After the panel discussions, participants formed groups to work on specific solutions for updating physical education and shared their professional experiences.
The educational circle of physical education is part of a broader consultative process, which includes surveying educators, parents, and students. The Ministry plans to conduct several more such meetings, which can be joined through the website educationforlife.mon.gov.ua in the “Who is it for?” section.