Cabinet appoints Ivan Yuriichuk as Deputy Minister of Education

Strategic focus on secondary education and NUS reform

In his new role, Yuriichuk is responsible for the general secondary education sector, which includes school development and the implementation of educational changes. His portfolio covers the New Ukrainian School reform, the reform of senior classes, and the formation of a network of specialised lyceums.

General secondary education is currently undergoing significant changes, including the piloting of senior profile schools. These developments occur as communities work to form a network of lyceums.

Minister Butenko emphasizes practical experience

Minister Andrii Butenko stated that it is important for the secondary education direction to be led by someone with managerial experience and a practical understanding of how schools operate. He noted that this appointment occurred at a critical time for school education as the New Ukrainian School reform covers senior classes.

Butenko expressed that it is important to him that this direction is headed by a person who knows the school from the inside. He also noted that he values the new deputy's dedication to the work and his ability to see tasks through to a result.

The minister announced the appointment on 16 October 2026.

Yuriichuk's professional background in education

Ivan Yuriichuk has over 20 years of professional experience in education and public administration. He holds an education as a physicist and is a specialist in public administration.

His career began as a physics teacher in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, followed by work as a methodologist. He has over ten years of teaching experience, having worked in both a rural school and a natural-mathematical lyceum.

Experience in education quality and digital transformation

Before this appointment, Yuriichuk was the Deputy Head of the State Service for Education Quality of Ukraine. He previously worked at the State Inspection of Educational Institutions of Ukraine and the State Service of Education Quality, where he led the department of accreditation and monitoring.

Starting in 2022, he served as Deputy Head of the State Service of Education Quality for digital development, digital transformations, and digitalisation. In this capacity, he coordinated the creation of the EvaluEd school assessment system.

Ministerial expectations for future school reforms

Minister Butenko stated that the decisions made now will determine how children will study in the coming years and the conditions under which teachers will work. He expects Yuriichuk to immerse himself in the processes of general secondary education.

The minister stated he expects the new deputy to work in the interests of children and educators. He aims for school reforms to be understandable for teachers and felt by pupils.

Broader government personnel changes

Taras Melnychuk, the Cabinet’s permanent representative to the Verkhovna Rada, announced the government’s personnel decisions on 16 October 2026. These included the appointment of Oleksandr Chepurnyi as deputy minister of health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine, and Ihor Ilchenko as head of the National Social Service.

The government also approved the appointment of a deputy head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration.