Shevchenko Art Lyceum: 20 new hires without a competition and a promise of conscription exemption

Since the beginning of 2026, the staff of the Taras Shevchenko Art Lyceum in the capital has been supplemented by 20 new employees. The hiring took place without conducting competitions or drawing up the corresponding protocols. According to the institution's data, statistics on the experience and teaching load of the newcomers are not kept. Particular attention is drawn to the fact that in the job vacancy announcements, the lyceum directly promised candidates conscription exemption. Among the newly appointed are five men liable for military service, which causes concern among the staff.

Management appointed without selection

The position of acting director is held by Alevtina Kahidze. She headed the institution after the dismissal of Olena Avramenko, who had led the lyceum for over 30 years. Kahidze's appointment also took place without a competition. Deputy head of the general education cycle, Oksana Mykhailivna, noted that during the document processing, it turned out that the first entry in the new head's employment record book is precisely the director's position. Previously, she had no work experience in state general education institutions. Alevtina Kahidze's salary level is 41,000 hryvnia.

The Ministry of Culture explained that the status of acting director allows legally managing the institution without a competition under martial law conditions. The restoration of competitive selection for the positions of directors of art lyceums is planned only after the cancellation of martial law. The selection process must take place in accordance with the Regulation approved by Order No. 348 dated 20.05.2021.

Vacancies with promises of conscription exemption

On the Work.ua website, the institution, which appears under the name KDHL named after T. G. Shevchenko, posted vacancies with the wording: "We have housing and conscription exemption!". In response to a direct question from journalists about the number of men liable for military service working at the lyceum, Alevtina Kahidze answered that there are five of them. No documentary confirmation of the military registration or status of these employees has been provided, so requests have been sent to the competent authorities to establish the fact of possible use of positions to avoid mobilisation.

Problems with staff identification

During filming, journalists met a man in the lyceum corridor who, when asked about employment, answered negatively, claiming that he was merely a "visitor" and waiting for a meeting. However, acting director Alevtina Kahidze later named him an employee of the institution, clarifying that he works in the administration and does not teach. The head did not answer questions about this man's position and the reasons for concealing his status, after which she left the premises.

Personnel changes and staff reaction

The lyceum's staffing schedule is calculated for 159 positions, but in fact, 102 people are working. Management explained the absence of a competition by stating that the law does not directly require it. Despite the mass hiring of new staff, experienced teachers complain about reductions. Many have had their number of hours reduced and their class leadership duties removed. Teachers express dissatisfaction with the lack of dialogue with the new management.

Senior teacher of mathematics and physics, Irina Osowska, said that the staff, through pedagogical councils, asked the head to explain the action plan, but she did not engage. In her words: "Вона робить лише свої висновки, а потім говорить, що ми їй не допомагаємо" (She only draws her own conclusions and then says that we are not helping her).

Parents' concerns

Personnel changes also affect the students' parents. Marina, the mother of an 11th grader, noted that as of mid-September, she did not know the class schedule. She heard about the reduction of specialists and subjects and expresses anxiety, as her daughter plans to apply to the I. Ya. Pavlov National Academy of Fine Arts (NAOMA).