Ten-year schools (десятирічки; desiatyrichky). The popular name given to the 10-year secondary general-education schools, established in the Ukrainian SSR in 1934. Graduation from the 10-year schools gave pupils complete secondary education and made them eligible for entry into institutions of higher education. From 1986, 10-year schools were gradually transformed into 11-year schools in connection with the extension of complete secondary education by one year.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 5 (1993).]