Education in Ukraine During War: New Solutions to Overcome Challenges

In the context of the crisis caused by war, education in Ukraine is facing serious pressure, requiring close cooperation between the state, the public sector, and international partners. This synergy, which combines the demands of the state, the expertise of non-governmental organizations, and the resources of international donors, is shaping a new logic for educational solutions today.

As part of the multi-year #MYRPUA resilience program aimed at creating and developing digital products for teachers, significant results have been achieved. One of the most important accomplishments of the project has been the implementation of digital screening for the emotional well-being of students in grades 1-4 in six frontline regions. Following an analysis of the results, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine approved this technology for further use in the educational process on a broader scale.

The program is funded by the global fund Education Cannot Wait, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. The implementation of the program is made possible through the efforts of two powerful consortia: a local one led by the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) and an international consortium led by the Finnish organization Finn Church Aid.

Since the onset of the full-scale invasion in 2022, the educational process in Ukraine has undergone significant changes. Although education had already been adapted to an online format due to the Covid-19 pandemic, lessons conducted via ZOOM and grades recorded in electronic journals proved insufficient to overcome educational losses. According to data, over 50,000 educators in Ukraine find themselves in challenging conditions that require new approaches to learning.

Anastasia Krykun, manager of the Methodological Service of the POVIR platform and an expert at EdCamp Ukraine, notes that this is not just a local problem but a global challenge, which is exacerbated in Ukraine due to military actions. "Almost a third of Ukrainian students—over a million children—lack access to a full educational process," she emphasizes. In response to this, new solutions are emerging, such as POVIR, which connects middle and high school students with specially trained educators to reduce educational losses.

The educational online platform POVIR is one of the projects of EdCamp Ukraine, where students have the opportunity to learn alongside specially trained teachers. The platform offers various access options, including basic functionality, a chatbot to support students and teachers, as well as a mobile version, making learning more accessible.

"Even if you are not directly involved with the platform, you can always take an important step—direct children who need extra attention, explanation, or support there," explains Anastasia Krykun. She also notes that POVIR is becoming a third space for students, alongside school and home, where they can catch up on knowledge and feel confident in their abilities.

In the challenging conditions of Ukrainian society's survival, the issue of mental health is increasingly being raised. Anna Sydoruk, CEO of Osvitoria, speaks about the importance of supporting the mental health of students, teachers, and all participants in the educational process. "In times of education in emergencies, mental health support is crucial. War, sleepless nights from explosions and alarms—all of this significantly affects the morale," she notes. A child can only learn effectively when they are calm, so it is essential for teachers to identify the early signs of anxiety in children.

Together with Osvitoria, over 300 new digital lessons have been developed for students and teachers for the #MYRPUA program. These structured solutions help quickly adapt learning to the conditions of war, combining various formats (online, offline, blended) and reducing the burden on educators.

Ksenia Kalyna, project leader from Teach for Ukraine, emphasizes that the effectiveness of education emerges only when it operates as a system. At the center of this system is a consistent logic. Teach for Ukraine is part of the global Teach For All network, which unites organizations in 63 countries worldwide. Its activities aim to reduce educational inequality through a leadership development program and to address educational losses among students.

Ksenia Kalyna also notes that digital models are not isolated innovative solutions but a comprehensive infrastructure that allows for the scaling of learning approaches. Today, the digitalization of education is not a collection of separate services but a cohesive infrastructure that includes various elements that together create an effect. "Digital tools reduce the teacher's preparation load and provide flexibility: ready-made lessons, interactive exercises, videos, and lesson plans allow for conducting classes in any format without losing quality," explains Ksenia Kalyna.

In addition to tools, an important component has been training courses for educators. EdCamp Ukraine is developing the direction of education equality and non-discrimination, offering online quest courses that help teachers adapt to new learning conditions.