A lack of access to education in the frontlines of Ukraine exacerbates inequality
After two years of war, the educational situation of students in Ukraine is massively impaired.
Two out of three children have no opportunity to go to school regularly. Ukrainian teachers report that students' knowledge of Ukrainian and mathematics has deteriorated massively.
Serhii Lukashov, Director of SOS Children's Villages Ukraine, explains:
"Day after day, the war dictates the children's educational situation in the most brutal way: air raids, attacks, and power cuts are part of everyday life. They lead to forced interruptions to lessons, falling educational standards, and exacerbated inequality. Especially in the frontline areas, many schoolchildren have no chance of attending classes. Many drop out of school altogether."
Thanks to the experience gained during the coronavirus pandemic, it was possible to switch to online teaching relatively quickly, but this is a significant challenge given the many power outages. In addition, this cannot replace regular lessons; not only does the quality suffer, but there is also a lack of social contact.
"Particularly in these difficult times, it is important for children to meet friends, exchange ideas and have a healthy daily routine. Schools play an important role in children's mental health," says Lukashov.
SOS Children's Villages has set up a new school in Izium to ensure that children have a safe place to learn.
2022-2023 Impact Report:
Update on the war in Ukraine and our emergency response