Ivan lives in the war-affected region of Mykolaiv, Ukraine. His hometown of Snihurivka experienced active fighting from March to November 2022. During this time, 3 out of the 4 local schools, including Ivan’s school, Snihurivka Lyceum, were damaged by missile attacks.

Since 2022, thousands of educational institutions have been attacked. Some have been able to reopen and welcome students back safely, but as of January 2025, 1,882 schools—15% of all primary and secondary schools in Ukraine—remain damaged or destroyed.

Around 1.2 million students continue to access education online or through a blended format of online and in-person learning.

School closures, attacks on schools, lack of devices and connectivity, displacement and constant stress have led to Ukrainian children experiencing profound learning losses and missing out on opportunities to socialize with their peers.

GPE and partners are working with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine to give more students the chance to learn in person and connect with peers.

Restoring access to education

Thanks to a combination of financial support from GPE, implementation support from UNICEF, and financial and in-kind support from Microsoft and Google, Ukraine is opening Digital Learning Centers equipped with computers and an internet connection in places where schools cannot reopen.

Students go to Digital Learning Centers to connect to online classes, study in a quiet space or with peers, and participate in catch-up classes with teachers.

Children who do not have access to computers, tablets or smartphones can use the equipment at a center to continue their online learning, and all children can charge their devices, download learning materials and benefit from tutorials.

The centers have their own electricity supply, so they are not impacted by electricity cuts in surrounding areas.

Addressing students’ needs

At the centers, students can participate in catch-up classes to recover from learning gaps caused by disrupted schooling. The education ministry worked with UNICEF to develop guidelines for remedial education interventions, ensuring coordinated learning recovery across the country.

Teachers have been trained to assess knowledge and identify and address learning losses. Additionally, remedial tutorials are provided directly to students online and offline.

While the centers support students with their studies, they are also a place where students can hang out, play games and talk with one another, providing much-needed opportunities for social interaction.

To avoid additional learning losses, the Digital Learning Centers will remain open until children can safely go back to learning in person at their schools.

Safety and well-being are priorities

Just as in regular school, staff and students at Digital Learning Centers must be prepared for emergency situations. For example, everyone at the center in Snihurivka Lyceum practices evacuating classrooms and going to an underground shelter.

Teachers and school administrators must be equipped to respond to students’ emotional needs as well.

Evacuation drills can trigger anxiety, or a student may be withdrawn and unable to engage in class or with peers. For many children, the war has created acute and chronic stress, anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, sleep problems, fatigue, irritability or anger.

To protect the education community, the government developed the Safe Educational Environment System, which addresses both physical and psychological safety.

The education ministry has worked with partners to develop policies, protocols and tools to provide students with the support they need.

Education professionals in war-affected regions have been trained in school safety, mental health, psychosocial support and social-emotional learning, and the training has been extended to all schools in Ukraine.

Digital Learning Centers ensure that their students benefit from the same safety and well-being interventions as children able to attend regular schools.

GPE's partnership approach has mobilized additional resources for Ukraine critical to addressing a complex set of education challenges.

Against great odds, education stakeholders are ensuring that conflict-affected children have access to safe learning environments, opportunities for social interactions, mental health support and a sense of normalcy.