Disrupted Schooling in Ukraine Fuels Emotional Instability in Children, Says Education Fund Chief

Ukraine, July 12, 2025: For five consecutive years, children in Ukraine have been denied “normal” schooling. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the ongoing war, the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science reports that 4.6 million children face barriers to education, with around 2 million unable to attend school due to closures.

Laura Frigenti, Director-General of the Global Partnership for Education—the world’s largest fund dedicated to education—spoke to Vatican News’ Marie Duhamel about how the war has devastated Ukraine’s education system and harmed its young people.

Frigenti identified two main consequences. “Half of the infrastructure was destroyed, and so the children had to stop going to school and start remote education,” she explained.

Children’s rights group Plan International has reported that around 30% of Ukraine’s educational buildings have been damaged since 2022, and more than 365 schools completely destroyed. Even with online schooling, power cuts and poor internet access hinder consistent, quality learning.

Beyond physical damage, Frigenti warned of severe emotional consequences. Many children suffer “emotional instability… which prevents them from fully achieving the objectives that they could achieve under normal circumstances.”

She stressed the need for psycho-emotional support to help children cope with trauma. Where possible, educators try to bring children together in person to rebuild social skills and confidence, but frequent bombings often make this impossible.

A February 2025 survey by Plan International of 1,000 young people aged 15 to 24 revealed that one in five have missed between one and two years of schooling due to the conflict.

Some children in the 5th and 6th grades now struggle to read, having fallen behind during online learning without teachers’ physical support. Another study found children in rural areas are four to five years behind their urban peers.

To address this crisis, the Ukrainian government has launched a development strategy focused on rebuilding education and preparing the country’s future.

Frigenti said the government’s goal is for Ukraine to become “fully integrated in Europe on a trajectory of growth.” Central to this vision is developing human capital and equipping young people with skills needed for Ukraine’s role in Europe.

Funding remains a significant challenge, but Frigenti praised the government’s work to “involve the private sector and bring all sorts of players around the table,” emphasising that restoring education is crucial for Ukraine’s long-term recovery.

Courtesy: Vatican News

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