Conditions for Implementing Mediation as a Recent Practice in General Secondary Education Institutions

Under wartime conditions, students in secondary education institutions experience increased emotional distress, leading to escalated conflicts and the spread of destructive behaviors. Restorative practices—methods aimed at restoring relationships and individuals affected by conflicts or harmful actions through active involvement of all parties, the social environment, and the community—are an effective tool for conflict prevention and resolution in student communities. One of the most widely used restorative practices is school mediation. This article aims to substantiate the necessary conditions for the successful implementation of mediation in secondary education institutions as a means of preventing and resolving conflicts among participants in the educational process. The study's objectives include analyzing the content and forms of mediation in schools, identifying key factors that enable its effective application, assessing institutions' readiness for mediation programs, selecting appropriate mediation models, and preparing schools for their successful adoption. A distinctive feature of school mediation is its socio-pedagogical function, which involves extensive engagement of students as peer mediators under the “peer-to-peer” principle. The successful implementation of mediation programs in secondary education institutions depends on several conditions: organizational, regulatory, methodological, and socio-psychological. These include the institution’s infrastructure readiness, designated spaces for mediation activities, managerial support and relevant regulatory frameworks, availability of trained mediators, coordinators, and supervisors, as well as the motivation of students to take on the role of peer mediators. Additionally, the absence of resistance or skepticism towards mediation among students and staff is crucial for the program's success. Each of these factors serves as a criterion for assessing an institution's preparedness for mediation implementation.