🇺🇦🏛️Education During War: How Parliament and Government Ensure In-Person Learning in 2025
The editorial team at NDU.KR.UA continues to keep civil society informed about key decisions made during plenary sessions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. This time, we focus on education during martial law, as presented by Ukraine's Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi, during the Government's Q&A session in Parliament.
📌 Introduction: In-Person Education – A Priority Even in Times of War
Amid air raid alerts, energy challenges, and attacks on critical infrastructure, Ukraine remains committed to its core values. Every child's right to education, including in-person learning, is an uncompromising priority for the government, parliament, local communities, and international partners.
September 1, 2025, marked both a symbolic and real milestone as the new academic year began across Ukraine, accompanied by a public report detailing extensive efforts to reopen schools, even in frontline communities.
📚 Key Decisions and Achievements Presented in Parliament
✅ Growth in In-Person Learning Despite the War
Over 3.5 million students started the school year in more than 12,000 schools.
338,000 Ukrainian children abroad continue distance learning with Ukrainian schools.
The number of in-person learners has increased by 103,000 compared to last year.
These achievements result from coordinated efforts among the government, parliament, regional administrations, and international partners to create a safe and resilient educational environment.
🍽 Free School Meals – Continuing the President's Initiative
Free meals provided to all 1st–4th grade students nationwide.
In frontline regions, free meals extend to grades 5–11.
Funding for this initiative is secured through the end of the year.
📕 Textbooks: A New Model for Creation and Transparent Monitoring
8.6 million textbooks printed in 2025, including 110 new titles, primarily for 8th grade under the New Ukrainian School (NUS) reform.
100% of the print run completed by July 30; 88% already delivered to schools.
For the first time, over 2.8 million copies delivered directly to schools by publishers.
An electronic dashboard has been launched to monitor deliveries and enforce sanctions against unreliable publishers.
🎓 Admissions Campaign 2025: Transparency and Accessibility
184,000 first-year university students already enrolled.
Over 50% receive state-funded support.
30,000 master's degree applicants recommended for state-funded places.
For the first time, results from the Polish Matura are accepted for Ukrainians who studied abroad.
📊 National Multi-Subject Test (NMT): Stable Results and Public Trust
250,000 participants completed the NMT.
Highest scores achieved in mathematics; English remains the most popular elective subject.
20,000 Ukrainians took the NMT abroad to apply to Ukrainian universities.
🛡️ Safety: Infrastructure Solutions and New Approaches
🏗 Funding for Shelters
The government allocated UAH 11.2 billion for school shelters:
UAH 5 billion (2024 subsidy) to build 77 shelters in eight frontline regions.
UAH 6.2 billion (2025 subventions) to fund 144 projects in 21 regions.
A total of 221 projects are funded, with 33 underground schools already operational.
🏫 Shelter Coverage in Schools
11,235 schools (90%) equipped with various types of shelters.
645 schools still without shelters—work is ongoing.
The number of schools with shelters increased by 499, with 1,065 new shelters established.
🚔 "Enhancing School Safety" Project
Launched in 2025 in partnership with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
691 schools involved, with 1,600 schools hosting Educational Safety Service inspectors.
Focus on security, safety education, and resilience-building for children.
🚍 School Transportation: Investments in Accessibility
UAH 1.9 billion allocated for purchasing school buses.
With community co-financing, over 600 buses will be acquired.
1,500 buses purchased over the past three years, providing daily transportation for students.
🧭 Analytical Focus: Transforming the Educational System
Minister Lisovyi emphasized that the government is not just addressing immediate challenges but is implementing strategic modernization of the education system, including:
Preschool reform: Building an accessible system for every child.
Professional development for educators: Transitioning to flexible, modern models.
Vocational education: Implementing new legislation, creating model spaces, and modern workshops.
Financial transparency in higher education institutions: New management and resource distribution mechanisms.
🔎 What Does This Mean for Citizens?
✔ Parents gain confidence in their children's safety.
✔ Students receive quality textbooks, school meals, and a secure environment.
✔ University students benefit from transparent admissions and state support.
✔ Teachers access new development tools and respect for their profession.
✔ Communities receive tangible investments in schools, buses, and shelters.
✔ The entire country sees that education continues to function, transform, and withstand challenges.
🧩 Conclusions and Next Steps
The NDU.KR.UA editorial board believes this systematic approach to organizing the educational process during wartime exemplifies parliamentary accountability, governmental efficiency, and European standards of public administration.
🔹 Expected Next Steps:
Full coverage of schools with shelters.
Expansion of preschool reforms.
Scaling up support for vocational education.
Transparent digitalization of education management.
We will closely monitor the implementation of these decisions and invite readers, educators, parents, and students to engage in discussions, share information, and contribute to building an educational system worthy of Ukraine’s future.
📌 This material was prepared by the NDU.KR.UA editorial team based on the speech of Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyi during the Government Q&A session in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (September 2025).
