Ukraine: Education disruption due to war

In February 2022, Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that has since disrupted the education of over 5 million children, as reported by UNICEF. Despite the current relative calm and the diversion of public attention to other conflicts, the ongoing struggle of Ukrainian children to access education remains evident. This is underscored by the declining learning patterns in the PISA 2023[i]  results.

UNICEF has been actively working to reconstruct an environment conducive to education for Ukrainian children. Thousands of schools, pre-schools, and other educational facilities have been targeted by continuous attacks, consequently, Ukrainian children struggle to gain access to education. This, coupled with parental concerns for their children’s safety, has led to reluctance to send children to school. [ii]

Education is of utmost importance during times of war for several reasons. It fosters mental health by providing a routine and a sense of normalcy and stability. Moreover, it is fundamental for the post-conflict perspective of the Ukrainian population. The longer a child is kept out of school, the less likely they are to return. Therefore, limiting time away from school is incredibly important. Education also provides the skills and qualifications needed to build lives for oneself and prosperity for one’s community[iii]. In the long term, a quality education promotes peace and post-conflict reconstruction. It helps young people develop the skills and qualifications they need to build lives for themselves and prosperity for their communities[iv]. Furthermore, education can foster resilience and unity among students, for instance, the Kyiv School of Economics has continued its educational activities and launched new projects focusing on the needs of business and society in Ukraine during war[v].

Most recently Russia attacked the capital, Kyiv, a hospital, school, kindergarten, morgue, and residential buildings were damaged in the attack, with the latest update stating that 53 people were injured. Twenty of them, including two children, were hospitalized as a result of the strikes[vi].

UNICEF has been collaborating with the Government to facilitate the return of children to education. This is achieved through various means, including in-person learning in classrooms when deemed safe, as well as online or community-based alternatives. Despite the numerous challenges, nearly two million children were able to access online learning opportunities. Additionally, 1.3 million children were enrolled in a mix of in-person and online learning. However, the attacks that primarily targeted energy sources and electricity have resulted in most failures in accessing education. This makes it impossible for children to continue their education.[vii]

In conclusion, the conflict in Ukraine has disrupted the education of millions of children, a situation that has been further complicated by the destruction of educational facilities and the diversion of public attention to other conflicts. Despite these challenges, UNICEF has been actively working to reconstruct an environment conducive to education for Ukrainian children. Considering the role of the United Nations in this situation is crucial. It is not only a matter of rebuilding schools and preschools, but also of ensuring that the Ukrainian children have access to education, regardless of their location, and provide psychological support. The United Nations, through UNICEF, has a unique opportunity to play a significant role in this situation[viii].