On 30 October, Kyiv School No. 25 hosted the forum “Integrity and Education: New Directions”, organised by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) in partnership with the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI). The event brought together representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, educational institutions, the teaching community, civil society organisations, student initiatives, and international partners to discuss the role of education in building a culture of integrity in Ukraine.
“If we want the next generation to pursue values of integrity, accountability, and transparency, it must start in schools. And it is not enough with textbooks of integrity or training of teachers. We need to have a holistic approach. To work with school managements, with parents, with student organisations and school councils, and have a dialogue with local authorities,”
said Allan Pagh Kristensen, Head of the EUACI.
He emphasised that developing integrity should be a systemic process encompassing all elements of the educational environment — from governance to student participation in decision-making.
The forum took place in a hybrid format, both online and offline, using interactive sessions. Most participants noted that environment and culture have the greatest impact on shaping integrity among children. The event was held in the format of “lessons,” where participants discussed challenges and ways to promote integrity in general secondary, vocational, and higher education, as the key settings where values of integrity, accountability, responsibility, and zero tolerance for corruption are formed.
The NACP also presented the Integrity Development Strategy in Education for 2026–2030, which sets out goals, tools, and steps for fostering a culture of integrity in Ukrainian schools and universities. Work on the Strategy began in August 2024 and included analytical research and strategic sessions focused on different levels of education.
“We believe that integrity begins not with laws or inspections, but with a mindset shaped from the first lessons at school. It is at school that a child first encounters concepts of fairness, honesty, and responsibility. Therefore, the development of integrity is not only a task of anti-corruption policy — it is a matter of the country’s future. The values our children grow up with will determine what kind of Ukraine we live in tomorrow,”
said NACP Head Viktor Pavlushchyk.
The Strategy was developed by the NACP in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, EUACI, the academic community, civil society organisations, teachers, and students to create an educational environment that promotes the systematic development of integrity and ethical behaviour.
A separate panel focused on the school nutrition reform — one of the best examples of how transparency and accountability can transform the educational environment. During a public interview, Orest Stepanyak, Head of the School Nutrition Reform Team, talked about the strategic goals, implementation stages, and next steps. Thanks to cooperation between the Reform Team, the Ministry of Education and Science, and EUACI, about UAH 320 million were saved in 2024–2025 through more transparent reconstruction and renovation of school canteens across Ukraine.
Sofiia Holota, Team Lead of the EUACI’s Component Supporting Media and Civil Society, announced the results of the EUACI grant competition for initiatives promoting integrity in education. Some of the winners presented their organisations and upcoming projects, including:
- Smart Education NGO — developing practical tools for teachers and supporting school-based integrity initiatives;
- Zminotvortsi NGO — engaging teenagers from small communities through interactive learning formats;
- Ukrainian Law and Liberty Circle NGO – fostering ethical leadership among university students.
Watch the recording of the forum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pyojQ2nEqI
Education is not only a system of knowledge but also a space where a culture of behaviour, trust, and responsibility is formed.
