The devastating conflict in Ukraine has had a profound impact on the education of millions of children. According to Education Cannot Wait (ECW), a United Nations global fund for education in emergencies, the war has disrupted the education of approximately 4 million children, with over 600,000 unable to access in-person learning due to ongoing fighting, attacks, and displacement. This crisis underscores the urgent need for global support to protect education from the devastating effects of war and ensure all children have access to quality learning opportunities.
During a recent high-level UN mission to Ukraine, ECW leadership met with children and partners on the ground to gain firsthand insights into the challenges faced by Ukrainian education. The visit highlighted the dire need for increased funding and action to address the educational crisis. ECW emphasizes the importance of protecting education from attacks, providing safe in-person learning environments, offering remote learning options when necessary, and implementing remedial catch-up programs to mitigate learning loss.
Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of ECW, passionately calls for an end to the war, emphasizing the paramount importance of protecting schools and ensuring that every child has access to a quality education. She underscores that investing in education is not just about academic development, but also about promoting recovery, peace, security, and justice for Ukraine and beyond.
Since 2017, ECW and its strategic partners have provided over $26.9 million in funding to support quality education programs in Ukraine. These programs, delivered by a consortium of partners including Finn Church Aid, the Kyiv School of Economics, Save the Children, and UNICEF, have reached over 360,000 children, approximately 65% of whom are girls.
The war has intensified the need for these programs. ECW has allocated $20.4 million to implement a Multi-Year Resilience Program in Ukraine, which aims to mobilize millions more in funding and reach over 150,000 children in the most heavily impacted areas. This investment seeks to improve learning outcomes by creating safer and more accessible learning environments, expanding digital learning initiatives, and providing alternative education opportunities. Recognizing the psychological impact of the conflict, the program also focuses on mental health and psychosocial support, particularly for girls and children with disabilities.
The Global Business Coalition for Education (GBCE) has pledged to mobilize $50 million from the business community in support of ECW’s four-year strategic plan. In partnership with GBCE, TheirWorld, HP, and Microsoft, $39 million in partnerships and device donations have already been mobilized, with over 70,000 laptops distributed to schools, teachers, and individuals in need in Ukraine and neighboring countries.
Despite these efforts, the war continues to disrupt education. Since the start of the school year in early September, education facilities across Ukraine have been targeted by deadly attacks, leaving approximately 600,000 school-aged children unable to access in-person learning. UNICEF reports that over 1,300 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the war.
The constant threat of violence and displacement profoundly impacts children’s ability to learn, even when they are physically in school. The trauma of the war and the fear of attacks create an environment that hampers learning and undermines the quality and continuity of education.
In response to the ongoing crisis, Education Cannot Wait and its partners are calling for an additional $600 million in funding to implement their four-year strategic plan, ensuring that children in crisis-impacted countries worldwide have access to quality education and hope for a better future.
The situation in Ukraine highlights the urgent need for global solidarity and action to protect education in conflict zones and provide children with the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive despite the challenges they face. It is through education that we can build a brighter future for generations to come.
