In the third year of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, a disappointing trend is observed – there are more and more empty seats in university classrooms. This is especially noticeable among male students over 30 years old. Instead of credits and diplomas, they are offered summonses. War changes everything: from the economy to the personal plans of every citizen. However, its impact on the higher education system is a topic that is little talked about, even though the consequences could be catastrophic. The general mobilization put many people in front of a choice in which there is no fair solution: to defend the country or to continue their studies. Of course, mobilization is a necessary element of the country’s defense. But isn’t the future of our education system too high for this?
Mass expulsions of men from higher educational institutions of Ukraine
Recently, on his Facebook page, Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mykhailo Vynnytskyi made public disappointing statistics on the number of expelled students in higher educational institutions of Ukraine. Yes, for the period April-August 2024. 23,448 male students over the age of 30 were excluded from higher education institutions of Ukraine. As Mr. Vynnytskyi notes, the reasons for expulsion were failure to succeed and failure to attend classes. But, agree, it is hard to believe that at once so many students began to study poorly and, moreover, skip classes. In other words, the officials, neglecting the right to study without gender and age restrictions provided by the Constitution, easily labeled such a large number of students as “truants” and “two-year students”. And for some reason, such a trend is observed only among male students.
According to the deputy minister, although the situation with the reduction in the number of students is a negative phenomenon for education, it also indicates a sign of demandingness of Ukrainian higher education institutions. That is, it is not the quality of the provision of educational services that comes to the fore, but, as it turned out, mass expulsions of students.
And once again, the Ukrainian education system is teetering on the precipice. Losing a significant portion of students does not simply reduce the number of graduates of higher education institutions. It destroys the balance on which the academic community rests. Faculties will be forced to cut courses due to lack of students. This will also affect universities, because they will lose funding, and teachers will be forced to make layoffs. It is hardly possible to consider a full-fledged educational system in a country where education becomes a privilege only for those who have not been touched by mobilization.
The danger of such a situation is that short-term solutions are already creating long-term problems today. Will there be enough qualified engineers, doctors, and teachers in Ukraine in a few years? Will there remain young talents in the scientific field who could develop the economy, technology and culture? War takes away from us not only the present, but also the potential future, if a solution is not found now that will maintain the balance between the country’s defense capability and the need for a skilled, educated nation.
It is obvious that this problem requires an immediate dialogue at all levels of society. It is important to create mechanisms that will allow students to continue their studies even under conditions of mobilization. This could be distance education, deferment to completion of studies or other flexible approaches. Otherwise, such a situation may arise that the time will come when the war ends, and the country will not have enough people capable of rebuilding it at that time. The state, led by officials who make rash decisions, should see the problem now and start looking for the right solution before it’s too late.
The influence of military conflicts on the educational system in foreign countries
It is clear that mobilization processes cannot but affect all spheres of life, including education. In many states that have experienced or are experiencing military conflicts, mobilization affects access to education, the student body and the overall development of education systems.
If you go through the pages of history, you can see that mobilization processes have always had a significant impact on education, especially during periods of military conflicts. From the loss of students and teachers to the destruction of educational infrastructure, these are challenges that can have long-term negative consequences for countries rebuilding after war.
During the Second World War, the mass mobilization of men led to a significant reduction in the number of students in higher education institutions. For example, in the USA in the 1940s, the number of male students decreased so much that universities began actively recruiting women to fill the classrooms. This had a long-term effect. Women began to play a greater role in higher education, a turning point in the gender balance.
In the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the mobilization of young men has caused a crisis in universities. Because of the conflicts, many students were forced to interrupt their studies, which led to the loss of a whole generation of specialists. It took decades to rebuild the education system after the war, as many students did not return to school.
In Israel, compulsory military service for men and women has a significant impact on the education system. However, the state was able to develop mechanisms that allow a harmonious combination of education and service. For example, students can receive a deferment to complete their education or continue their education after completing their service. This approach maintains a balance between mobilization and educational needs.
But Syria and Afghanistan became a vivid example of how the war effectively paralyzed the education system. The mass mobilization of young men and the flight of the population abroad led to the closure of many educational institutions. This resulted in the loss of an entire generation of educated people, which seriously affects the post-conflict recovery of countries even today.
In South Korea, compulsory military service for men temporarily halts their education. However, the system is designed so that students can return to their studies after service. State support programs help ensure the transition from the army to the educational process.
It is clear that mobilization affects education in many countries, but the level of this influence depends on the flexibility of public policy. In countries where this balance was achieved, such as Israel, South Korea, and the United States during World War II, it was possible to minimize losses to education and ensure rapid post-conflict recovery. Instead, the bitter experiences of Syria, Afghanistan and Yugoslavia, where education was neglected, bear witness to the sad results of a devastating blow to human capital, creating a crisis that has taken decades to overcome.
The examples of other countries should become a relevant lesson for Ukraine today. Mobilization is necessary to protect the state, but without preserving the education system, the future of the country is at risk. Only flexible solutions and government support, which allow young people to learn even in difficult conditions, guarantee that after the war, the country will have enough specialists to rebuild. Education is the foundation without which it is impossible to build a sustainable and successful society.
Fraudulent schemes to avoid mobilization in educational institutions
At the same time, one cannot deny the fact that there are more and more cases of fraud and manipulation in the issue of evading mobilization involving employees of higher education institutions. Thus, in the Poltava region, a professor of a private university made a business of enrolling potential conscripts for bachelor’s, master’s, and postgraduate studies at the local state university without entrance exams. To implement the criminal scheme, the perpetrator used personal connections among officials in the education sector.
In Transcarpathia, an associate professor of the history department of a local university was arrested for taking bribes for illegal registration for higher education of conscript-age applicants.
And in the Mykolaiv region, the leadership of the Higher Educational Institution “International Technological University “Mykolaiv Polytechnic” generally showed great ingenuity and took advantage of the gaps in the regulatory documents, which made it possible to recruit about a thousand people to the educational qualification level “junior specialist” and “specialist”, which in Ukraine were liquidated back in 2016. As a result, such students would not be able to receive diplomas, but would have the possibility of deferment from mobilization. Probably, this was the purpose of their admission to this educational institution.
Such cases demonstrate how ill-advised decisions regarding the organization of the mobilization process in the country cause crime and endanger the quality of education for people who really want to get a qualification.
The mass expulsion of male students over the age of 30 demonstrates how war destroys not only the economy and infrastructure, but also the education system. Instead of diplomas, these people receive summonses, and universities lose not only students, but also their future potential. Today, it is important to mobilize not only the army, but also public opinion about what will happen to the country after victory.
If Ukraine remains with an education system focused only on young students, as well as those who are not affected by mobilization, we risk losing a whole generation of specialists without whom it is impossible to rebuild the country. Higher education should not be a luxury or a privilege. This is an investment in the future, and it cannot depend on age or gender in any way.
Of course, mobilization is a necessary process, but it must not undermine the foundations on which the country is built. If the government does not find a way to maintain access to education for all who want to learn, then the lack of a sufficient number of qualified professionals with higher education could become an economic disaster and social crisis for Ukraine. Without educated doctors, engineers, teachers and scientists, the country risks facing the degradation of key sectors that ensure sustainable development. The weakening of the system of education and science can lead to a loss of competitiveness of Ukraine on the international arena, an increase in the level of unemployment and migration, which will ultimately exhaust human capital.
This problem is of strategic importance – instead of building the future, the state risks losing its ability to provide the basic needs of citizens. The lack of highly qualified personnel will jeopardize the defense capability, the quality of medicine, the development of innovative industries, as well as the general standard of living. At the same time, this will pave the way for increasing dependence on external specialists, which can further undermine the independence and self-reliance of the state.
Tomorrow, there may be no one left to rebuild our cities, treat the sick or teach children. War requires quick but balanced decisions, and one of the most important is to strike a balance between defending the present and preserving the future.
