In Ukraine, the war takes its toll on education. The return to school brings to light the academic delay of students since the Russian invasion due to the massive destruction of schools. 10% have suffered damage: 400 have been completely destroyed and nearly 4,000 – according to UNHCR – have suffered significant damage.
That is the main reason why many Ukrainian students are being forced to study remotely or in improvised bunkers underground, as Yuliia Skok, a Ukrainian teacher, warns. “When the sirens sound alerting us of an air attack, you see the fear in the children’s eyes. They understand that they must go to the shelter. They don’t carry books or anything like that, just water and a sandwich, because they know that we don’t know how long we will be down there. And the process is interrupted again and again,” he laments.
Yuliia Skok warns that “to the difficulties of war we must add the direct impact of not attending in-person classes and the lack of interaction. This hinders children’s ability to freely express their ideas or write correctly. They do not always manage to keep up with the pace or assimilate the topics discussed in class.” And remember that Ukrainian students are scattered throughout different corners of Ukraine and even the world. “Of course they have many gaps in their knowledge, very obvious gaps. When we teach reinforcement classes, the emotional imbalance of the children is noticeable; it is difficult for them to concentrate. It is not that they are not able to perform the exercises, but that they needed to read them several times.”
There are many consequences of a conflict that has now totaled four and a half years of horror
The NGO World Vision warns that two out of three Ukrainian students say they have not returned to class this year for fear of being hit by a missile or drone.
Of the 3.6 million students who have resumed their education this September, only 2.2 million have returned in person, while nearly 1.5 million have no choice but to study remotely due to their proximity to the front or to be refugees. And those who return have to settle – on many occasions – with teaching in underground schools or improvised bunkers that clearly affect their concentration levels.
Russian bombings and drone launches have not stopped with the return to school
On the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, World Vision highlights the need to establish safe spaces, i.e. adequately equipped school shelters, and the intensification of psychosocial support. And 44% of Ukrainian students, according to UNHCR, have mental health and socialization problems due to an entrenched conflict.
