Ukraine will open the doors of 25,000 schools on Tuesday, Sept. 1, with local authorities instructed to avoid mass events in areas at heightened risk of Russian attacks.In a statement ahead of the new school year, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi presented a detailed report from the Minister of Education and Science covering all matters related to the safety of the educational process, including meal arrangements, shelters, and pay increases for education workers.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“Our task is to ensure that, despite the war, children have the opportunity to study safely and receive a quality education,” Koretskyi said.Shelter access expandsSchool assemblies and other ceremonial events should be held only where local security conditions permit, taking into account shelter capacity and the ability to reach them quickly during an air raid, Koretskyi said, instructing authorities to make decisions locally, based on risk of Russian strikes.More than 82% of children in preschool education and 83% of school students nationwide now have access to shelters, covering over 9,000 preschools and 11,000 general secondary schools.Meanwhile, Ukraine is building another 131 state-funded shelters, including 18 underground kindergartens.The projects are expected to raise shelter access to 87% of preschool children and students, with the government aiming to reach 92% by the end of 2027.“Last year, the figure was 77%. In 2022, it was 10%,” Koretskyi said, adding that the rate is considerably lower at universities and vocational education institutions, remaining at 68%. Out of 1,420 universities and colleges, roughly 965 have shelters.
Ukraine Opens 25,000 Schools as Shelter Access Reaches 83%, Teachers Get Another 20% Pay Raise
Starting Sept. 1, teachers’ salaries will rise by another 20% after already being increasing by 30% earlier this year, as Ukraine seeks to ensure that children receive a quality education despite the ongoing war.
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