Remote Education in Ukraine: New Challenges and Reforms by the Ministry of Education and Science
For the third consecutive year, Ukraine's education system has been operating under extraordinary circumstances caused by the ongoing war. The conflict has scattered students across the globe, while the destruction of schools and disruption of regular schooling have posed urgent challenges for the entire educational infrastructure. In these difficult conditions, the need for balanced, flexible, and responsible decisions has become more critical than ever. Recently, the Ministry of Education and Science introduced amendments to its directives, including Order No. 1112 dated August 7, 2024, and Order No. 1115 dated September 8, 2020, which significantly regulate issues related to remote learning. These changes mainly aim to reduce opportunities for online education, promoting the concept of 'Offline School,' intended to elevate the quality of education and bring students back to physical classrooms. However, in the context of war and safety concerns, applying one-size-fits-all rules becomes problematic—especially for children in conflict zones and temporary occupied territories. The upcoming 'Offline School' program, planned from September 2025, promises to be adaptable and inclusive, but its success depends entirely on the clarity of its implementation details. Public resistance and teachers' protests against the new restrictions on remote education have been ongoing for over a year, intensifying as debates continue. There are concerns that these regulations could prevent students from remote learning opportunities, especially those in remote or occupied areas, thus risking their safety and future prospects. The legislative innovations include curbing the freedom of choosing educational institutions and promoting in-person learning, which is particularly significant for internally displaced children and those from occupied territories. Additionally, new requirements regarding minimum class sizes—setting a threshold of 20 students for remote classes—contradict existing laws that stipulate at least five pupils per class. This threatens the viability of remote education in small schools and regions, especially in frontline zones where most schooling is remote. Stricter conditions are also introduced for children from occupied territories, including documentation and safety protocols, which pose additional security risks. The Ministry emphasizes the return to in-person education where safe shelters are available, but in areas with ongoing shelling and no proper shelters, this remains unfeasible and highly dangerous. Overall, these regulatory changes impact the operational autonomy of schools, forcing them to close classes or reduce staff—raising concerns among educators and parents alike. Despite registration of new directives in the Ministry of Justice and active parliamentary discussions, there is hope that some provisions may be reconsidered or annulled in future reforms.