Most schools in Ukraine operate in-person, but only some can hold classes in shelters

In Ukraine, as of early October, almost 70% of schools operated in-person, over 19% in a mixed format, and about 11% remotely. However, due to the intensification of Russian attacks, educational institutions are forced to change their work format, and only 42% of schools can fully continue classes in shelters.

This was announced on October 16 during a speech in the Verkhovna Rada by the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Andriy Butenko.

According to the minister, in the 2026/2027 academic year, about 3.4 million children started studying. Despite regular Russian strikes and air-raid alarms, the majority of general secondary education institutions continue to welcome students directly in schools.

However, recent attacks on infrastructure are forcing educational institutions to revise the organization of the educational process. Particularly noticeable changes have occurred in the Kyiv region and the capital.

According to Butenko, in the Kyiv region, 75% of schools have already switched to a mixed learning format according to pre-prepared scenarios. In Kyiv, 16% of educational institutions have made such a transition.

The minister stressed that schools should have several scenarios for organizing classes depending on the intensity of shelling, the duration of air-raid alarms, and the state of infrastructure.

Another problem remains the suitability of school shelters for learning. According to Butenko, 82% of schoolchildren and kindergarteners have access to protective structures. However, far fewer institutions can not only stay in the shelter during danger but also continue the educational process there.

"It is necessary to distinguish between shelters for protection from enemy attacks and shelters where learning can continue," the minister explained.

According to his data, only 42% of Ukrainian schools can organize the continuation of learning in shelters. The rest are forced to interrupt classes during air-raid alarms or use other work formats.

Butenko also announced that in 2025, the state allocated UAH 6 billion to support shelter construction projects and another UAH 1 billion for corresponding needs of kindergartens. According to him, work has begun on 131 projects.

At the same time, the construction of full-fledged radiation shelters requires considerable time. As the minister noted, the implementation of such projects usually takes up to two years.

We remind you that on October 15, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a decision on organizing education during prolonged air-raid alarms. Schools must determine the format of classes depending on the security situation, capacity, and arrangement of shelters.

In particular, institutions can combine in-person and distance learning, introduce flexible schedules, and conduct classes in equipped learning zones of shelters.

The Ministry of Education and Science has also provided for monthly monitoring of the organization of the educational process. Regional and Kyiv City military administrations must submit information about the situation in educational institutions by the 20th of each month.

Source: broadcast of the Verkhovna Rada session, Oleksii Honcharenko, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine