Lessons in Ukrainian schools can be shortened to 35 minutes: under what conditions

In Ukrainian schools, the duration of a lesson under certain conditions may be 35–40 minutes instead of the traditional 45. Teachers may also change the sequence of subjects in the schedule if this helps students better assimilate the material.

This was stated by the Minister of Education and Science Andriy Butenko.

According to him, the main task of the educational process should be for students to achieve program results and gain the necessary knowledge, and not formally adhere to a fixed duration of the lesson.

When a lesson can be shortened to 35 minutes

If the teacher sees that children are tired and can no longer effectively perceive information, the duration of the lesson can be reduced to 35–40 minutes.

This approach, according to the minister, should allow for more efficient use of learning time.

A similar principle can be applied to the school schedule.

Subjects are allowed to be swapped if necessary so that students study the most difficult material at a time when it is easier for them to concentrate and work.

At the same time, it is about the possibility of adapting the educational process to the condition and needs of children, and not about a general reduction of all lessons in schools to 35 minutes.

They also propose to reduce the overall workload on schoolchildren

Amid the discussion on the duration of classes, on September 18, a petition appeared on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers calling for a reduction in the number of school hours.

The authors of the initiative propose to provide schoolchildren with more time for sleep, rest, physical activity, extracurricular development and communication with their families, while maintaining the quality of education.

It is also proposed to establish clear limits on the amount of homework, reduce the bureaucratic burden on teachers and make wider use of integrated courses.

Four days after publication, the petition collected 32 signatures out of the required 25 thousand.

Learning outcomes remain a problem

In 2026, 48,590 participants of the National Multi-Subject Test failed to score a passing score in at least one subject.

The greatest difficulties arose with mathematics – 39,888 participants, or 12.1% of the total number of those who took it, failed the test.

According to the data from the PISA study for 2025 presented in the material, 46% of Ukrainian 15-year-olds did not reach the basic level in mathematics, 45% in reading, and 35% in natural sciences.

Thus, the possibility of reducing individual lessons is considered not as a mechanical reduction in learning time, but as a tool for more flexible organization of the educational process with an orientation towards learning outcomes and the condition of students.