Mykolaiv region's education in shelters: what the war has changed and how Pervomaiska community is looking for solutions

Source: Gard.City publication

Safety is not an abstract concept when it comes to schools in the frontline region. In the Mykolaiv region, particularly in the Pervomaisk community, the educational process is confined to square meters of shelters. Even in conditions of relative silence, education is often impossible because not all students can be evacuated quickly and safely. And while the Education Recovery Strategy is in place at the state level, practitioners in communities face specific challenges. This article is about what they look like on the example of Pervomaisk.

Plan for the future: the state's vision of safe education

In 2022, the Government presented the State Strategy for the Restoration of Education as part of the broader Recovery Plan for Ukraine (CMU, 2022). This is an ambitious roadmap - from repairing destroyed schools to building an inclusive, digitalized, flexible, and psychologically resilient education system. Among the priorities is the construction of shelters as a basic component of security.

However, the implementation of such large-scale plans in the frontline regions largely depends on stable funding, logistics, and personnel - and, of course, on the fact that Russia continues to attack Ukrainian territories. In these circumstances, communities are forced to find local solutions.

Mykolaiv region: alarming statistics

According to the Department of Education and Science of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration in response to an editorial request, as of April 2025, 100,102 students are enrolled in educational institutions of the region:

• full-time - 33,152 (32%);
• distance learning - 25,006 (25%);
• mixed - 32,593 (33%).

That is, two-thirds of children do not attend classes. Although the shelling does not occur every day, the security factor is key. This is the reason why schools operate in a mixed or remote format.

Despite the challenges, the region is not lagging behind. Government subsidies, donor programs, and support from international partners, including UNICEF, allow us to gradually modernize educational institutions. An example is the school shelter in Mykolaiv, equipped with the support of the savED Foundation, which has become not only a protective space but also a modern educational hub.

Pervomaisk: a portrait of the problem

According to the Education Department of Pervomaisk City Council, as of April 25, 2025, there are 18 schools in the community with 6,818 students. Of these, 2,557 are studying full-time, while the rest are studying in a mixed format. The distance education form is not fully used in our community. The main reason why people are forced to study in a mixed form is the lack of shelters.

What is a mixed form of education? For example, a class studies offline for a week and online for a week, making room for others to study offline.

• 13 schools in Pervomaiska community have the simplest shelters;
• 2 use shelters in apartment buildings (under contract);
• 3 operate on the basis of kindergartens.

Almost all shelters are designed for only a part of students. This is why schools are forced to work in two shifts or combine forms of education. Despite the ongoing repairs, capital construction has not begun, as funding is expected. Design and estimate documentation has already been prepared for three facilities. If the funding is not received, it will need to be adjusted, which means more money.

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