Attachments
1. Executive Summary
Education in Kharkiv blast has been massively affected by the war and its conse- quences. The situation continues to be critical and unfolding. Educational infrastruc- ture is damaged or destroyed, and continuous shelling and attacks make safe access to schools and kindergartens difficult even after the liberation of the Eastern areas of the oblast.
Basic safety and mine awareness are major concerns, as well as the ability for fami- lies and communities to live a life in dignity. For both teachers and learners, the war continues to fuel anxiety, insecurity, and enormous stress. It is essential that mental health needs of learners and teachers are addressed immediately, including overload and burnouts related to studying and working in a crisis context.
Teachers and other education personnel are often displaced. Lack of access to schools and shortage of devices for teaching further hampers the ability of teachers to deliver quality education services. Similarly, the continued destruction of vital infrastructure makes internet connectivity and access to online education difficult or impossible in many areas.
Supporting the continuity of formal education across the oblast is essential amid various disruptions caused by attacks on infrastructure. Learning gaps of children, especially those who remained in Russian-occupied territories since February 2022, should be recognized and addressed. Hence, non-formal, including catch-up and accelerated teaching and learning options, should become widely available.
New and innovative transitional education modalities for distance education (includ- ing paper-based) need to be introduced. Where schools are significantly damaged and cannot re-open fast, digital learning spaces (temporary learning spaces) with protective shelters and generators need to be set up in line with safety regulations, also paying heed to the voices of both learners and teachers that plead for the return to as much face-to-face learning as possible.