An Education in Wartime
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Loading... - Pyotr Vassiliev
- 11 Feb 2025
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The ongoing war in Ukraine has severely impacted the education system, with one in seven schools damaged, many in areas occupied by Russian forces. Despite these challenges, Ukrainians are determined to ensure that learning continues.
Oksana Stasik, principal of the only school in the village of Vozdvizhivka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, recounted the harrowing night in October 2022 when her school was destroyed by powerful strikes, leaving deep craters in the park. Before the invasion, the school served over 100 students and employed 17 teachers. It is one of more than 3,500 schools affected by the war, with nearly 400 completely destroyed, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Education.
In occupied areas, schools and kindergartens have been repurposed for military use, including as encampments and medical facilities. Reports from Human Rights Watch indicate that Russian forces have looted educational resources, describing these actions as war crimes. Anna Novosad, a former education minister and co-founder of the foundation savEd, stated, “Russia is systematically and continuously attacking Ukraine’s education system,” highlighting the strategic intent to undermine Ukrainian identity and culture.
The war has created significant disparities in education. Novosad noted that the academic gap between children in Kyiv and those in frontline regions like Kherson has widened to nearly five years. Children in frontline cities have spent thousands of hours sheltering in basements and metro stations, with about 1 million of the 4 million schoolchildren now studying entirely online. Many have missed critical phases of learning, particularly in primary education, which are essential for their development.
In occupied territories, children are forced to attend Russian-controlled schools and follow the invaders’ curriculum. To maintain a connection to Ukrainian education, they study online, often under challenging conditions. Educators have adapted by allowing asynchronous learning and using pseudonyms for safety.
In Ukrainian-controlled areas, innovative solutions are being implemented to continue education. In Zaporizhzhia, construction has begun on 12 bomb and radiation-proof underground schools to accommodate 12,000 students. In Kharkiv, many schools have moved underground, with over 6,000 children currently studying in subterranean classrooms and metro stations. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov noted that many children are seeing their classmates in person for the first time due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19 and the war.
Efforts to restore education are also aimed at encouraging families to remain in their communities. In Bohdanivka, a school that was occupied and burned down by Russian forces has been replaced by Ukraine’s first Transitional Learning Center, opened in July 2024. This initiative, supported by the savEd Foundation and USAID, has helped families decide to stay in the area, as access to education becomes a key factor in their choices.
Despite the challenges, savEd has faced funding suspensions that have forced them to pause some projects, including the establishment of additional Transitional Learning Centers. However, they continue to support tutors in frontline communities. Novosad emphasized that each day without education adds to the cost of recovery, and if the war continues, innovative solutions will be necessary to support children and teachers in the hardest-hit regions.
One proposed solution involves an exchange program to bring children from Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv to schools in Lviv for in-person classes. Novosad believes that hosting these children and allowing them to socialize will make a significant difference. She stressed the need for creative solutions beyond just providing tablets for online learning, ensuring that children are not left behind as the conflict persists.
The war in Ukraine has created unprecedented challenges for the education system, but the resilience and creativity of educators and organizations like savEd are helping to ensure that learning continues. As the situation evolves, it is crucial to find innovative ways to support the educational needs of children affected by the conflict, safeguarding their future and the cultural identity of Ukraine.
