How education in Ukraine treads the line between preparedness and militarization
"I liked flying drones the most," 16-year-old Anna Alekseeva says. "We had simulators, and we could even fly them in the corridors between classes." Alekseeva is among the first students to finish the redesigned Defense of Ukraine course, a two-year subject that becomes compulsory for all 10th and 11th graders in September 2027. Instead of weekly classroom lessons, students spend a full day a…
How education in Ukraine balances preparedness and militarization has become a subject of concern. The redesigned Defense of Ukraine course, set to become compulsory for 10th and 11th graders in September 2027, focuses on equipping students with practical skills to protect themselves and understand the role of the military in society.
The course covers various topics, including tactical medicine, navigation, drone operation, and firearms handling, with students spending a full day per month at specialized training hubs. These hubs are equipped with drone simulators, training drones, laser shooting ranges, air guns, and life-size firearm replicas, among other facilities.
The team behind the course reform emphasizes the importance of practical skills for self-protection. Students learn how to fly drones, handle firearms, and provide tactical medicine. Many of the instructors are active-duty service members who bring their real-world experience to the classroom.
The course received criticism from legal experts and international bodies, who argue that it blurs the line between preparing children for a potential conflict and preparing them to participate in one. Kateryna Rashevska, a legal expert for the Regional Center for Human Rights, noted that Ukraine is in a fundamentally different legal situation compared to countries that have experienced the militarization and indoctrination of children under occupation.
The course aims to strike a balance between providing essential skills and cultivating patriotism. While it includes practical modules, it also emphasizes human rights, resolving international disputes, and international humanitarian law. However, there are concerns that the course might inadvertently contribute to the militarization of Ukrainian children.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
