The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, together with SCM companies Metinvest and DTEK, has signed a Memorandum supporting the Modern Learning Spaces project — an initiative to create modern learning environments in Ukraine's academic lyceums. The signing took place at the "Cuboid" Mathematics Museum, with coordination provided by the East Europe Foundation.
Modern Learning Spaces forms part of the senior specialised school reform and a direct response to the shortage of specialists in the engineering, technical and natural sciences. Developing education in STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — is a long-term investment in the country's recovery and in the resilience of critical industries, for the state and for business alike.
In 2026 the Ministry of Education and Science is allocating UAH 1.9bn ($46m) to equip around 250 educational institutions across Ukraine. This covers laboratories and classrooms for the natural sciences and STEM disciplines, where pupils will be able not only to study theory but also to run experiments, work on projects and acquire practical skills.
The project has been supported by socially responsible Ukrainian business. SCM companies Metinvest and DTEK financed the work of the Implementation Support Team, which will assist educational institutions as they design classroom projects, carry out refurbishment, install equipment and launch modern learning spaces. At the implementation stage, when communities move from funding to practical delivery, there is often a risk of losing quality or momentum. The Implementation Support Team will work alongside each institution — from planning refurbishment in line with Ministry guidelines to quality control during the fitting-out of laboratories and classrooms. Metinvest and DTEK together directed close to UAH 11m ($265k) towards strengthening the quality of delivery on the ground, joining the initiative as partners investing in the proper execution of the reform.
For business, taking part is an investment in the country's future technical talent pool. A shortage of engineers, physicists and technical specialists is already a challenge for the energy, metallurgy and industrial sectors. Supporting STEM education means addressing the problem early, while pupils are still at school.
This long-term approach reflects the strategy of SCM's shareholder Rinat Akhmetov, as shown by SCM companies being among the first to sign the Human Capital Resilience Charter at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome.
"We cannot rebuild Ukraine without Ukrainians. The future depends on the next generation choosing to build their lives at home. Investing in modern educational spaces is how we make that choice real — giving young people the skills to stay in Ukraine in order to build a successful economy and society," said Natalya Yemchenko, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at SCM.
The effectiveness of this support will have concrete and public results. By 1 September 2026, 143 pilot academic lyceums are due to begin teaching to new standards in fully equipped modern spaces. In December 2026 the partners will present the first measurable set of results, with implementation data, teacher feedback and a public report.
Modern Learning Spaces is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine within the World Bank programme "Improving the Accessibility and Resilience of Education in a Crisis in Ukraine" (LEARN), together with the East Europe Foundation and socially responsible Ukrainian businesses.
