Odesa Region: continuity of Romanian-language education ensured in most schools, except for the lyceum in Borisăuca

Most Romanian-language schools in the Odesa region retain 10th-grade classes

Most educational institutions in localities with Romanian populations in the Odesa region will have 10th-grade classes in the 2026–2027 school year as well. The situation remains uncertain, however, at the Borisăuca Lyceum, the only educational institution in the region where the educational process is conducted entirely in Romanian.

According to information available among teachers in the region, several lyceums and Grade I–III schools in Romanian-populated localities have managed to retain their 10th-grade classes, despite the uncertainties caused by the reform of upper secondary education.

The situation at Borisăuca Lyceum remains unresolved

A major exception is Borisăuca Lyceum. The Tatarbunar City Council did not approve the opening of a 10th-grade class for the 2026–2027 school year.

As a result, parents of students who were due to continue their education in the 10th grade were forced to withdraw their children’s files and submit them to lyceums in the city of Tatarbunar in order to ensure continuity in their education.

Borisăuca – the only school providing education entirely in Romanian

The significance of the situation is even greater given that Borisăuca Lyceum is the only educational institution in the Odesa region where education is conducted entirely in Romanian.

The other institutions attended by Romanian students operate under a mixed-language system, while in some of them the educational process is conducted in Ukrainian, including in classes attended by students from the Romanian community.

The transition from “Moldovan language” to Romanian

Borisăuca Lyceum took an important step in 2023, when its teaching staff amended the institution’s statute and introduced Romanian as the language of instruction, abandoning the designation “Moldovan language”.

The model was subsequently followed by other educational institutions in the region. During the first part of 2024, several schools officially replaced the designation “Moldovan language” with “Romanian language”.

Education reform and the rights of national minorities

The situation at Borisăuca Lyceum has once again brought attention to the issue of ensuring continuity of mother-tongue education for Romanian communities in the Odesa region.

Against the backdrop of Ukraine’s European path, respect for the rights of national minorities, including access to education and the preservation of linguistic and cultural identity, represents an important issue in relations between Ukrainian institutions and national communities.

Dialogue between Odesa authorities and Romanian representatives

In this context, on 25 August 2026, a meeting was held in Odesa between Anton Shalyhailo, Deputy Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, and Claudiu Tătaru, Acting Consul General of Romania in Odesa.

According to information provided by the regional administration, the discussions focused on ensuring continuity of the educational process, the region’s current needs ahead of the new school year, as well as the changes resulting from the reform of upper secondary education.

Linguistic diversity at the center of discussions

Representatives of the administration emphasized the multicultural character of the Odesa region and the importance of preserving linguistic and cultural diversity.

The meeting highlighted the need to support the study and teaching of national minority languages, as well as to create the necessary conditions for all children to have access to quality education.

Romania and local authorities seek solutions for educational continuity

Another important dialogue took place on 22 August 2026, in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, between Acting Consul General of Romania in Odesa, Claudiu Tătaru, and representatives of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi District Administration.

The succession of these meetings, both at district and regional level, raises hopes for finding solutions to ensure the continuity of Romanian-language education in the Odesa region.

These efforts are particularly important for students who should attend the 10th grade at Borisăuca Lyceum and who, in the absence of a solution, may be forced to continue their education in another locality.

Romanian-Ukrainian cooperation remains important for education

The Odesa Regional Military Administration welcomed the dialogue with the Romanian side and its willingness to continue cooperation, thanking Romania for its constructive approach.

For the Romanian community in the Odesa region, Romania’s diplomatic and institutional support is considered important for defending children’s right to access education in their mother tongue and for preserving their cultural and linguistic ties with Romania.

Continuity of Romanian-language education remains a priority

Although the majority of schools in Romanian-populated localities of the Odesa region have managed to retain 10th-grade classes for the 2026–2027 school year, the case of Borisăuca Lyceum shows that issues concerning the organization of education for national minorities have not yet been fully resolved.

The development of dialogue between the Ukrainian authorities and Romanian representatives will be essential for identifying a solution that would allow students from Borisăuca to continue their education at their local school and in Romanian.