School closures in Ukraine have become widespread: 2114 schools have closed in the last 4 years

The problem of closing schools in Ukraine has become large-scale, especially after the start of a full-scale war. In recent years, the country has lost a significant number of educational institutions, which has particularly affected rural areas. The causes of this crisis are multifaceted: demographic changes, mass population migration, financial difficulties of communities and military operations. However, the consequences of such a trend go beyond education itself, affecting society as a whole, including access to education, quality of life in communities, and even the future of rural areas of Ukraine. The deepening of this problem can become a decisive factor for many communities in matters of preserving their resources and attracting young people.

Scale of reduction of schools and its dynamics

According to the Institute of Educational Analytics, 2,114 schools have closed in Ukraine over the past 4 years. During this time, our country lost a fifth of its rural schools. In the 2020–2021 academic year, 14,815 schools operated in Ukraine. In four years, this figure has decreased to 12,701, indicating a reduction of 14%.

The biggest reduction affected rural schools, with 9,293 institutions in 2020 and 7,439 remaining by 2023–2024. Thus, almost 2,000 rural schools were lost, which is 20% of their total number. In urban areas, the number of educational institutions decreased by 5%, or by 260 schools. This difference shows that the most acute issue of closure has arisen precisely for rural communities, where schools are often not only educational institutions, but also social centers.

Reasons for reducing the number of schools

The main reasons for the mass closure of schools in Ukraine are complex and related to socio-economic changes that intensified during the war. Among the main factors are:

1. Demographic crisis and reduction of the student contingent. The war led to a significant reduction in population, especially in the eastern and southern regions, where many families were forced to move abroad or to safer parts of the country. This reduction has had a direct impact on the number of school-age children able to attend schools in their communities. Thus, in 2024, the number of first-graders decreased by 14% compared to the previous year.
2. Migration due to war. Millions of Ukrainians went abroad in search of safety, leaving their hometowns and villages behind, which resulted in the fact that only a small number of schoolchildren remained in many settlements. Rural communities were particularly affected, where children now have to travel long distances to the nearest schools.
3. Financial difficulties of local communities. Maintaining understaffed schools becomes financially burdensome for small rural communities, which were faced with a lack of resources even before the war. Now, due to the additional burden on local budgets, maintaining even one school in a sparsely populated village often becomes impossible.
4. Destruction of schools due to hostilities. The hostilities have resulted in the physical destruction or damage of many schools, especially in areas of active hostilities. Rebuilding such schools requires significant investment, which is in short supply, especially in rural areas where local budgets are limited and resources for rebuilding are often lacking.

Implications for students and local communities

School closures have significant impacts on students and communities, including:

1. Reduced access to education. Many children from remote areas are forced to travel long distances or even move to other settlements for education. This creates an additional burden on families and increases the risk of children in rural communities not receiving quality education.
2. Job losses for teachers and school workers. School closures lead to layoffs for many teachers, which especially affects small communities where finding other work is much more difficult. It also deprives students of the opportunity to learn from qualified specialists, as experienced teachers are forced to move to other regions or change professions.
3. Social isolation and community breakdown. In many rural areas, schools are centers of cultural and social life, and their closure deprives communities of important places for gathering and socializing. It also affects the youth, who no longer have incentives to stay in their native settlement, threatening its gradual decline.

The problem of closing schools in Ukraine has become one of the most serious challenges for the educational system and society as a whole. The situation requires an immediate response from both the government and the international community to preserve access to quality education for children even in the most remote communities. Only a comprehensive approach involving innovative methods and financial support can help overcome this crisis, providing Ukrainian children with the future they deserve.