Education under fire: The return to school in Ukraine between resilience and danger
The Ukrainian educational system has begun a new school year marked by uncertainty and resilience. This Tuesday, approximately 2.2 million Ukrainian children resumed their in-person academic activities, while another 1.4 million students were forced to continue their education through remote or hybrid formats due to the persistent threat of Russian attacks.
Despite government recommendations to avoid mass gatherings to prevent risks, some educational centers held brief welcome ceremonies. However, daily life is far from normal, as families live under the constant vigilance of air raid sirens and the impacts of drones and missiles striking various regions, including Kyiv.
Security measures for a prolonged crisis
To ensure pedagogical continuity after more than four years of conflict, authorities and families have implemented strict safety protocols. The instructions are clear: in the event of massive missile attacks, attendance is suspended; if the threat is from drones, students must go to the centers and take shelter immediately when the sirens sound.
We are never completely at ease regarding the safety of our children, but we cannot help but get used to the danger.
Testimony of a father in the Kyiv region
Critical challenges for the school system
- Devastated infrastructure: Since the beginning of the invasion, 423 educational institutions have been destroyed and more than 4,000 have structural damage.
- Access to shelters: Although 80% of schools have protected spaces, in areas near the front line, the reaction time to drones is minimal, hindering effective evacuation.
- Underground and digital education: In cities like Kharkiv, underground classrooms have been set up, while in other locations, the hybrid format is the only option due to the lack of physical capacity in bunkers.
- Teaching material crisis: The recent destruction of 1.2 million textbooks has forced the massive implementation of digital versions.
The situation is particularly complex for the 200,000 students residing in areas near the front line and the 400,000 who are refugees abroad, who depend exclusively on remote education. Although many school buildings have been left in ruins, the commitment of teachers and students remains firm, reaffirming the will to continue the educational process in the face of any adversity.
