About 3 million children to attend Ukrainian schools in 2026-27 academic year
About 3 million children are expected to study in Ukrainian schools during the 2026-27 academic year, including roughly 240,000 first graders, lawmaker Iryna Borzova said on national television on Aug. 31.
Approximately three million children will attend Ukrainian schools during the 2026-27 academic year, according to lawmaker Iryna Borzova, who reported this on national television on August 31. First graders are expected to number around 240,000, which is about 10% fewer than in 2025, a decrease she attributed to recent trends. Currently, 11,375 educational institutions in Ukraine have the necessary shelters to permit in-person classes, and as of August 31, 2.2 million children are anticipated to attend classes in person.
Another 700,000 to 800,000 learners will participate in a blended format, while around 200,000 students from frontline regions will study entirely remotely. Additionally, about 400,000 Ukrainian schoolchildren living abroad will also learn remotely. In the capital, Kyiv, about 95% of schools are prepared for in-person education, based on data from local authorities and the Education Ministry.
Borzova emphasized that individual schools will determine whether to employ in-person, remote, or blended learning models, with parents given the right to choose among available options. Ukraine's educational ombudswoman, Nadiia Leshchyk, cautioned schools against organizing large-scale celebrations for the first day of school due to heightened risks from Russian strikes.
She noted that mass gatherings, including traditional Sept. 1 ceremonies, pose significant dangers, as evacuating a large number of children swiftly and safely in the event of an air-raid alert would be extremely challenging.
The Ukrainian government had earlier approved the academic year schedule and framework under martial law, with the school year commencing nationwide on September 1. However, regional military administrations and the Kyiv City Military Administration, in collaboration with school founders, will decide the specific commencement of classes in each region.
The academic year is set to run through June 30, 2027, and each school's pedagogical council will determine the final day of classes, end-of-year ceremonies, and the duration of summer vacation based on security conditions and the needs of students and staff.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
