Lviv Officials Deny Claims of Mass School Absenteeism Among Internally Displaced Children Due to Bullying

In a recent statement, Lviv officials have officially denied the alarming reports suggesting that 50,000 internally displaced persons (IDP) children are not attending schools in the city due to bullying. Oleg Zakalyuk, the head of the Department of Education and Science of the Lviv Regional State Administration, addressed this issue on his Facebook page, as reported by Ukrinform.

Zakalyuk emphasized that the claim regarding 50,000 displaced children not receiving education in Lviv schools is not only a manipulation of facts but also a blatant lie. He stated that these figures have no basis in reality and called for a more responsible approach to reporting on this sensitive issue.

The department head highlighted that thousands of children who have been forced to leave their homes due to the ongoing war are currently enrolled in educational institutions in Lviv. He pointed out that the city is taking concrete measures every day to integrate these children into the educational process, stressing that these are not just words but real actions.

Zakalyuk provided specific data that can be easily verified: over 4,600 IDP children are currently studying in Lviv's schools and kindergartens, while the total number of displaced children in the city, including toddlers and students up to 18 years old, is approximately 12,000. "Where do these 50,000 come from? In whose imagination do they exist?" he questioned in his post.

Additionally, Zakalyuk noted that there are a total of 87,000 students enrolled in Lviv schools. While he acknowledged that conflicts among children do occur, he stressed that portraying isolated incidents as a "mass phenomenon" is either a complete detachment from reality or a deliberate attempt to distort the facts.

"Moreover, some children indeed do not attend Lviv schools, but not due to the fictitious 'mass bullying.' Some are continuing their education remotely at their home schools to maintain a connection with their roots. Others require time for psychological adaptation," Zakalyuk emphasized, highlighting the importance of understanding the reasons behind why certain children are not attending educational institutions.

It is worth mentioning that the information regarding the 50,000 children was circulated on social media, referencing educational expert Ivanna Koberna. During a broadcast of the program "I Hear Others," she stated that there are approximately 50,000 school-aged children among the IDPs in Lviv, yet less than 10,000 of them are attending local schools. She cited bullying, particularly due to language barriers, as one of the reasons for this situation.

In response to the challenges faced by children from temporarily occupied territories, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, in collaboration with the state institution "Ukrainian Institute for Educational Development," has developed a list of model educational programs aimed at ensuring quality education for children living or who have lived in these areas. These programs are designed to help children adapt to new learning conditions and integrate into society.

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