Rebuilding Ukraine’s education system: What nonprofits are doing and why it matters amid war

What's the problem?

Destroyed schools, evacuations, shifts in learning formats, and constant danger — Russia's war has not only disrupted children's access to education but has also led to significant learning losses. These losses go beyond missed lessons or incomplete knowledge. They include a loss of motivation, psychological pressure, difficulties in socialization, and a lack of essential skills needed for a successful adult life.

Education is the cornerstone of sustainable development in any country. This is why, even under the most challenging circumstances, it's crucial not only to preserve but to improve the quality of education.

What's the solution?

Both the government and public organizations are taking action by launching initiatives to restore the educational process. These range from one-on-one tutoring for children to large-scale programs supporting schools and teachers. Rubryka spoke with five organizations about the state of education in Ukraine and how they're paving the way for recovery.

The NGOs sharing their experiences include Teach for Ukraine, Pro.Svit Center for Innovative Education, Smart Osvita, savED.Foundation, and Re:Osvita.

How does it work?

1. Educational losses

People started talking about the educational losses from online learning during the pandemic, but things have gotten even worse since 2022.

"The State Service for Education Quality found that most students struggle with tasks in subjects like math and Ukrainian that should be mandatory for their grade level," says Olena Zaplotynska, Executive Director of Re:Osvita. "This creates a cycle of accumulated learning gaps, making it harder for students to transition to higher levels of education. It also undermines the development of foundational skills critical for future professionals in engineering, medicine, chemistry, and other fields. Motivation is also dwindling among both students and teachers."

Children in front-line regions face even greater challenges. Offline learning is almost impossible, and the online format doesn't provide the same level of socialization or self-organization skills.

2. Loss of structure

Anastasia Donska, head of educational loss recovery at Teach for Ukraine, says routine plays a vital role in children's and adults' lives. Consistent schedules, familiar classrooms, and regular repetition of material help children retain knowledge and build confidence in their abilities.

However, the war disrupted this system entirely. For instance, during the full-scale invasion's early months, many schools in occupied areas halted education altogether. According to a study on learning recovery of 5–11 grade students in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, some schools resumed systematic classes only after de-occupation — a gap of nine months.

3. Psychological impact

"We severely underestimate and don't study this factor," says Hanna Novosad, co-founder of the savED.Foundation and former Minister of Education (2019–2020). "In our society, people often believe and say they are fine, which makes it hard to truly understand someone's mental state and provide support. A study by savED found that at least three times more children struggle with anxiety than their parents or teachers realize."

Iryna Pasko, an analyst at Re:Osvita's New Ukrainian School, adds that frequent air raid alerts reduce learning time, forcing students to take shelter, where they can't continue lessons, especially during power outages. "Chronic anxiety — fear of explosions and worry for loved ones who serve in the army or live in front-line or occupied areas — grief and lack of sleep is the reality many children face," says Pasko. "Children and adults are under constant stress, which impacts motivation and cognitive abilities, like attention, ability to concentrate or remember new or old information. Children tire quickly, which exacerbates educational losses — basic knowledge gaps — which are hard to fill without overworking the kids."

Teacher burnout is another critical issue raised by the public union Re:Osvita. Constant stress, harsh working conditions, and juggling the need to fill learning gaps, support students emotionally, and maintain the pace of the curriculum are pushing many educators to their limits. As motivation wanes and more teachers leave the profession, the quality of education faces a serious threat.

4. Access inequality

Oleksandra Pietushkova, leader of Pro.Svit Center says children from regions affected by hostilities have limited access to the internet and learning devices, while those in safer areas or abroad have better opportunities. This disparity risks deepening social inequality in the long term.

5. Creating a safe learning environment

According to Pro.Svit, ensuring a safe learning environment is one of Ukrainian education's biggest challenges. Many schools have been destroyed, lack proper shelters, or don't meet the conditions needed for safe learning. While the government, local communities, and international partners work together to rebuild schools and educate people on emergency protocols, safety remains a pressing issue, even in the restored schools.

6. Slow policy adaptation

A major challenge also lies in how quickly — and effectively — educational policy can adapt to current realities. According to Re:Osvita, much of Ukraine's educational policy is still designed for a pre-war world.

"Teaching guidelines, curricula, and assessment methods often fail to address the new challenges students, teachers, and communities face today," says Olena Zaplotynska, the organization's director. "This is especially true for southern and eastern parts of Ukraine, where conditions drastically differ from those in central and western regions. A one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn't work for regions with such different circumstances."

7. Resource shortages

War has redirected budgets toward defense, leaving education underfunded. Teachers' salaries, school equipment, and reconstruction projects are all suffering.

According to Hanna Novosad from savED, the lack of resources for maintaining the current educational system and creating safe learning spaces and shelters will challenge Ukraine's education sector in the short and long term.

Despite these difficulties, one loss looms largest: the loss of people. War has taken the lives of educators and students and driven many abroad. While some families maintain ties with Ukraine and study Ukrainian culture and language remotely, it's uncertain how many will return post-war.

"The greatest tragedy would be losing this part of the generation that may not return," savED warns.

What's the solution?

"The situation in Ukraine stands out compared to other countries in crisis. We've always had a high level of basic education, a vast network of schools, and a wide range of extracurricular options. Crucially, almost all children were enrolled in schools," says Anastasiia Donska from Teach for Ukraine. "This makes it challenging for Ukraine to simply adopt education models from other countries facing war. We need to develop new learning procedures that align with our high educational standards."

For the past two years, the Ministry of Education and Science has been exploring innovative ways to organize education, support in-person learning, and continue reforms launched before the full-scale war.

• The State Service for Education Quality tests students and certifies teachers, while the Ukrainian Center for Education Quality Assessment adapts to new conditions and conducts PISA research.
• Ukraine rolls out online programs like the National Online School and improves educational platforms like Diia.Education and Mriia. The government also supports the return to offline learning by rebuilding schools, equipping shelters, and providing school buses.
• Teacher support initiatives focus on creating stable workforces and ensuring salaries. The government pays special attention to the mental health of students and educators and professional development for teachers, though these efforts need more scaling and funding.
• The education ministry works to Improve textbooks and teaching materials, which have benefited students. Despite the war, the New Ukrainian School reform continues, with dedicated funding in the 2025 budget. 
• Salary increases for educators are planned for 2025, alongside programs to encourage Ukrainians abroad to return home.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian NGOs and international organizations are stepping up, launching projects to support teachers, students, and digital education centers and creating shelters suitable for learning.

The savED.Foundation helps restore access to quality education in war-affected communities. Over two years, it has supported over 60,000 children in 70 communities, combining infrastructure projects with modern educational programs in Chernihiv, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

"We combine infrastructure solutions with educational software projects. This approach guarantees that learning is restored comprehensively — beyond just repairs or setting up physical spaces, we provide tutoring and activities that enhance learning quality," says co-founder Hanna Novosad.

An example is the EduHive Learning Centers, which serve as hubs for learning, socializing, and psychological support for students and teachers. The savED.Foundation has 88 centers and plans to open 50 more by 2025. 

In some regions, such as Kharkiv, these centers have become safe spaces where students take exams and celebrate graduation. According to the organization's surveys, 42% of students and 26% of parents believe the EduHive program fulfills the needs public schools don't meet, such as offering live interaction, access to gadgets and supplies, like games and books, extracurricular activities, and psychological support.

Another key initiative is Transitional Learning Centers. These spaces are designed for communities where schools have been destroyed. The first such space in the Bohdanivka, Kyiv region, which was under Russian occupation, now serves 250 students. The foundation plans to establish 20 more spaces.

The savED also offers the UActive program, which engages teens in community rebuilding through project management. Graduates have created youth centers, sports areas, and STEM classrooms. Over two years, 500 participants completed the program, with ten teams receiving grants worth $50,000.

On top of that, savED is involved in research and advocacy, tackling the major issues facing Ukraine's education system.

Teach for Ukraine has spent over two years addressing educational losses caused by the war. The organization runs various online and offline projects for students, providing both academic and socio-emotional support. It helps schools in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions develop strategies to mitigate learning gaps through initiatives supported by Save the Children and the EU.

One standout initiative is the Osvitniy Sup (Educational Support) program, which provides 45-minute online sessions that improve subject knowledge and help children manage stress. The results are impressive:

• 116,300 online lessons conducted
• 18,578 students reached
• 600 tutors and 300 mentors involved

The organization has also opened 14 catch-up centers, where trained teachers give small-group classes on school subjects for a few months. These lessons, organized at local schools or digital education centers, help students recover lost knowledge.

"We see a huge demand for educational support and socialization for children. Teachers also need guidance on working with mixed-level classes or students who've missed significant portions of school," says Anastasiia Donska.

In collaboration with the World Bank, Teach for Ukraine conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in 2023–2024 that proved the effectiveness of tutoring programs. Students gained the equivalent of 14 months in math and 11 months in the Ukrainian language while also reducing stress levels.

The recently launched StudMentor program involves university students mentoring schoolchildren from front-line areas. This "intellectual volunteering" supports students and provides mentors with valuable teaching experience.

The organization aims to scale impactful projects and set new standards for quality education in Ukraine's future.

According to Re:Osvita's executive director Olena Zaplotynska, their work focuses on three main areas:

• Helping communities develop education strategies

"We collaborate with de-occupied communities to restore education systems, design long-term strategies, and provide management consultations," says Zaplotynska. "For example, our work with the Velyka Dymerka community in the Kyiv region yielded positive results, inspiring other communities to follow suit. This shows that they want to develop and see potential in planning."

• Teacher support. The Re:Osvita union organizes retreats for educators from front-line regions, offering them a safe space to recharge, receive emotional resilience training, and learn how to better support students in difficult circumstances. A recent retreat gathered 45 teachers from five communities, who then shared their experiences with colleagues, amplifying the project's impact.

• Reducing learning gaps of children in front-line areas. Re:Osvita is developing a project where top university students will teach Ukrainian language, math, and English to children from front-line regions.

"This approach combines the experience of two generations: high-achieving university students help children catch up, while children receive extra support and motivation. It benefits students in school and gives young teachers valuable experience, which contributes to the country's future," the organization says.

"Every project by Smart Osvita is child-centered: we focus on the success of every child and their personal growth and want to reignite their curiosity and motivation for learning," says Lidiia Solonukha, communications manager at Smart Osvita. "We also want to help teachers discover new teaching formats and provide ready-made solutions to ease their workload and lesson preparation, especially during power outages, missile strikes, and air raid alarms." 

For instance, the Learn With Your Ears audio lessons offer over 600 twenty-minute recordings on Ukrainian history, world history, Ukrainian language and literature, civics, and even sex education. These lessons help teachers diversify their classes and homework assignments. For students, the audio lessons are a tool for preparing for classes, catching up on missed topics, or studying for national tests.

Smart Osvita says the accessibility of these audio lessons is their "superpower." They can be downloaded and listened to without electricity or the internet, in shelters, while jogging, or even while walking a dog.

Another project the NGO takes pride in is the five-week summer course Now I Know, which helps students in grades 4–10 catch up on Ukrainian language and math skills. In 2024, the course was conducted online using programs developed by experts and methodologists from the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment. Each child who completed at least half of the course received a certificate and a motivational letter with feedback on their progress and recommendations for development.

Students retain access to the platform and its resources even after the course ends.

"On average, students improved their knowledge by 25–30% when comparing entry and exit test scores. After completing the course, children continue using the platform's materials and recall teachers' advice, while parents note a positive impact on their children's motivation to learn," the NGO adds.

For over a decade, Pro.Svit has worked to advance education in Ukraine. The organization boasts over 20 projects, a network of over 5,000 schools, and a community of over 10,000 program alumni.

Since 2022, Pro.Svit's strategic goals have been:

• Supporting the professional development of educational leaders,
• Promoting psychosocial support in schools,
• Supporting sustainable educational development in communities.

Over the past two years, Pro.Svit has completed several large-scale projects to support education, even amid wartime challenges.

One key initiative, "Pro.Spilnoty: A Safe and Supportive Environment for Children's Learning," was supported by U-Lead with Europe (GIZ). This project gave 15,000 educators across Ukraine access to new knowledge and tools. Also, 779 teachers from 440 schools in 113 communities completed the Pro.Bezpeka safety program, creating safer schools for 200,000 children. The project team also developed the Pro.Bezpeka educational kit, which includes manuals, an online course, and an online guide for communities — valuable resources for educators.

Plan International Ukraine supported the center's vital project, Adapting School Psychological Services to the Challenges of War. This initiative assessed the state of psychological services in schools, which helped create recommendations for Ukraine's Ministry of Education in collaboration with the educational commissioner's office. Over 2,000 educators completed the Pro.Fakhivtsi online course, improving their ability to fulfill their roles during crises.

To assist schools in de-occupied areas, Pro.Svit launched the Pro.Vidnovlennia recovery project with support from ISAR Ednannia. The project studied the state and needs of educational institutions, developed an educational program for communities to restore schools, and created long-term method recommendations.

In the Shared Goal: Supporting Military Families project, surveys and interviews with military families provided a deeper understanding of their needs. Through a specially designed online course, 1,188 educators gained skills to support children and families with military members. More than 11,000 children participated in activities based on educational scenarios developed by Pro.Svit.

Even more helpful solutions!

Rubryka asked the experts what gaps exist in Ukraine's education system and how to address them.

According to the experts, Ukraine needs to follow these steps to rebuild the education system effectively:

• Consider regional contexts, especially in Ukraine's southern and eastern regions, which were severely affected by war.
• Adapt curricula to the realities of online learning and wartime conditions.
• Work more intensively with students with significant learning gaps, using individualized approaches.
• Continue equipping shelters and building underground schools to speed up a return to offline education.
• Digitize education by providing students with the needed devices and internet access to reduce inequality.
• Ensure systemic support for teachers, including psychological support and motivation through competitive salaries and professional development programs.
• Improve communication between authorities, communities, and educators to prevent misunderstandings, reduce bureaucracy, and genuinely simplify teacher documentation.
• Strengthen collaboration between the government, communities, and international organizations.

Ukraine urgently needs a national strategy to unite all key players in the education sector, make their work official and coordinated locally, and provide clear standards and priorities. This would be a game-changer in bringing together efforts across the industry.