From September 1, 2025, the “School Offline” program, introduced by the government under martial law, will start
Quality education is the cornerstone of any country’s development. This becomes especially relevant in times of trials, when the country is fighting for its independence. Ukrainian children, even in the extremely difficult conditions of war, should receive knowledge that not only ensures their future, but also strengthens the spirit of the nation. War poses challenges to society, but also opens up opportunities to transform the education system. In this context, the “School Offline” program, which will become operational on September 1, 2025, is one of the key steps taken by the state to ensure the educational needs of schoolchildren under martial law.
Features of the “School Offline” program
“School offline” program announced Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov. It is aimed at creating a safe and high-quality educational environment for children, even in the most difficult circumstances. The program includes several main directions:
- Construction of shelters for schools in the frontline regions. For this, the government has allocated 7.5 billion hryvnias, which will allow students to return to full-time education. This will not only ensure safety, but also contribute to the normalization of the educational process.
- Education for schoolchildren abroad. For Ukrainian children who were forced to find themselves outside the country, the study of key subjects with a Ukrainian studies component will be organized: Ukrainian language, literature, history and geography of Ukraine. Their grades from foreign schools will be taken into account when forming Ukrainian certificates.
- Face-to-face training for students in safe regions. Places in local schools will be provided for children who have moved to more peaceful areas. This will allow them to attend classes in face-to-face format.
- Pedagogical patronage for children from temporarily occupied territories. Each student will be assigned a teacher who will work with him individually according to a flexible schedule. This will allow children to maintain access to education even in conditions of occupation.
Education as part of survival strategy
The war made significant changes in the educational process, forcing to look for new approaches and forms of education. However, not all initiatives met with approval. Thus, the director of Lysychan Lyceum No. 4, Andriy Zhivaga, draws attention to the risks that arise as a result of distance learning restrictions.
In 2024, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine issued a number of orders that changed the format of distance education. At first, this caused a wave of indignation among teachers and parents. Later, the document was withdrawn, but new rules were adopted, forcing IDP students to study in host community schools. According to Zhivaga, this limits the right of parents to choose the education format for their children.
Challenges for schools and teachers
Distance learning remains an important tool, especially for those children who do not have the opportunity to attend school face-to-face. However, the new rules threaten the existence of small classes in distance schools. The main problem is funding: the host communities do not receive additional funds to support the increased number of students. As a result, this could lead to reduced class sizes and job losses for many teachers.
Andrii Zhivaga notes that migrant teachers often work part-time to support themselves financially. Going down one rate due to class cuts will be a major blow to them. “Migrant teachers often work half-time to survive. Moving to one-time is financially unprofitable for them,” he explains.
The “School Offline” program demonstrates the state’s desire to ensure access to education for every Ukrainian schoolchild, despite the challenges caused by the war. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain a balance between face-to-face, distance and individual learning in order to take into account the needs of all categories of students. Every step along this path is an investment in the future of children, as well as a contribution to the restoration of Ukraine as a strong and independent state.
