As part of the EU-funded school repairs project in Ukraine, implemented by UNOPS, construction work commenced in late June on the first batch of educational institutions. This will help prepare them to welcome students at the beginning of the new academic year in September 2023.
This is the first stage of the project aimed at providing safe and accessible learning environments to more than 20,000 students.
“Due to Russia’s war, countless schools in Ukraine lie in ruins or are heavily damaged, impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of children. Rehabilitating these schools is crucial for providing the youngest of Ukrainians a safe environment to learn and grow,” said Claudia Amaral, Head of EU Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine.
“We aim to restore a sense of normalcy and stability for children who have been affected by this war. The EU is committed to standing alongside Ukraine to rebuild schools, dreams, and the future of its children,” she added.
Following detailed assessments by specialists, eight schools across three oblasts – Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv – will have windows and doors replaced. These sites sustained relatively limited damage, often caused by blast waves coming from missile strikes nearby. The work is focused on ensuring the buildings are safe and comfortable for returning students.
”Words of gratitude go out to our international partners, including the school repairs in Ukraine project, implemented by UNOPS, for their significant support. The project is tackling the renovation of educational facilities that sustained local damage, providing them with much-needed equipment, and improving their shelters to meet safety requirements,”said Oleksandra Azarkhina – Deputy Minister for the Development of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure of Ukraine.
The rehabilitation works at the first eight schools will be followed by more extensive works at 28 sites. These will include light repairs of roofs and walls, heating systems repairs where needed, and some shelter repairs to enhance safety
“Education is what every country’s future depends on. As Ukraine faces the challenges that lie ahead, it will need the talents of its young generations to secure a sustainable pathway to prosperity. By helping schools reopen, we are making our modest contribution to the country’s success,”remarked Tim Lardner, UNOPS Country Director in Ukraine.
Local authorities and school administrations are hopeful that the efforts will allow students to return to classrooms.
“Children miss being able to socialize with their peers. They will sometimes visit the school, although they don’t have classes here. I keep hearing how much they miss it,”said Viktoriia Shalimova, Principal at Lyceum no. 4 in Lozova, one of the eight schools in the first batch.
Despite the ongoing conflict and the recurrent threat of airstrikes, the Ukrainian government has adopted a plan to return a significant number of schools to offline learning starting this September. According to recently adopted requirements, all educational facilities must have shelters with sufficient space in order to be able to operate.
“Safe educational environments are one of the government’s top priorities. We have already launched the recovery and reconstruction of damaged schools, as well as the construction of new ones. Central to these efforts is the Fund for the Elimination of the Consequences of Armed Aggression: 65 secondary schools have received funding from it,” said Oleksandra Azarkhina, Deputy Minister for the Development of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure of Ukraine.
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