With the beginning of a full-scale war, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian families were forced to leave the country, seeking safety abroad. Together with them, their children went to foreign schools, and now they face a double educational burden. The majority of Ukrainian students living abroad not only integrate into the educational systems of new countries, but also continue their studies according to the Ukrainian program remotely. This creates significant difficulties, as children are forced to learn two different educational programs at the same time, overcoming the language barrier, cultural differences and adapting to new living conditions.
Statistics and main problems
As of January 2025, almost 356,000 Ukrainian children live abroad and study under two educational systems. About this reported in the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
Children abroad attend local schools face-to-face, and after lessons continue to receive education remotely in Ukrainian institutions. Such a situation creates an excessive load on students, as the educational process is doubled, and the number of tasks and grades increases many times. Parents and teachers note that children are often in a state of chronic fatigue, which can negatively affect their health and motivation to study.
Simplification of the educational process
In 2023, the Ministry of Education of Ukraine proposed ways to ease the educational burden for children living abroad. A program with a Ukrainian studies component was introduced, which allows students to choose only key subjects in Ukrainian school – in particular, Ukrainian language, literature and history. This gives children the opportunity to stay in touch with Ukrainian culture and education, while not feeling the excessive stress of dual education.
For other subjects, such as mathematics or natural sciences, there is a possibility to transfer grades according to the results of studies in local schools abroad. This approach simplifies the educational process and helps children balance between the two programs more effectively.
Expanding opportunities for distance learning
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the Ministry of Education of Ukraine has significantly expanded the capabilities of the International Ukrainian School (IUS) – an educational institution that offers an external form of education for children abroad. Studying at the Moscow State University allows students to obtain a Ukrainian document on education of the state model, which enables them to continue their studies in Ukrainian institutions of higher education, vocational schools and vocational colleges.
As of January 2025, there are 8,877 students studying at the Moscow State University who use the opportunity to study under a flexible program adapted to the needs of children living outside of Ukraine.
Legislative initiatives and future changes
The Ukrainian government is considering the possibility of official recognition of the results of studies of Ukrainian children in foreign schools. In particular, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is currently working on draft law No. 12375, which provides for the simplification of the process of integrating knowledge acquired abroad into the Ukrainian education system. If this law is passed, children will no longer have to duplicate the same educational programs, which will significantly reduce the burden.
Today, thousands of Ukrainian children abroad are going through the difficult path of dual education. They are forced to adapt to new educational systems, while maintaining a connection with the Ukrainian school. The Ministry of Education is developing new mechanisms that will help reduce the stressful load on students, including reducing the number of subjects for distance learning and introducing flexible programs. However, further legislative support, international cooperation and a deep understanding of the needs of Ukrainian children who have found themselves outside the borders of their Motherland are necessary for a full-fledged solution to this problem.
