International inspection to ensure quality education for Ukrainian refugee children
Source: Accounting Chamber of Ukraine
Inspectors from Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia are joining forces to examine the accessibility of “quality education” for Ukrainian schoolchilden who found refuge in other countries.
The Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of these countries have agreed to conduct an coordinated audit ito assess how the right to education is being upheld for Ukrainian children in European schools.
The audit’s methodologies and objectives were discussed by the country representatives of the SAIs during a meeting in Rzeszów, Poland, on July 30-31. The event was hosted by Marian Banaś, President of the Supreme Audit Office of Poland, with the Ukrainian delegation led by Olga Pishchanska, Head of the Accounting Chamber.
Welfare of refugee children is a pressing issue as over 2 million Ukrainian children have left Ukraine since Russia’s Feb.24 invasion, according to Ukraine’s education commissioner. The rough estimates show that some 800,000 children enrolled into the EU schools during the 2022-2023 academic year but it is still unclear how many Ukrainian children are currently unable to access education.
“It is strategically crucial for families who fled due to the war to maintain their connection to Ukraine and return after our victory, ensuring Ukrainian children can easily reintegrate into our society. The only way to preserve a sustainable connection with these children now is to guarantee them continuous access to the Ukrainian education system, which upholds their national identity. We also need to understand how many Ukrainian children have access to education abroad and the quality and effectiveness of this education. Our goal is to engage those not currently in school and identify any obstacles they face,” Pishchanska stated.
During the meeting, the parties discussed possible audit policies and methods. In 2023, Poland’s SAI conducted an audit on the education of foreign children in Polish schools, identifying gaps in tracking children who are in Poland but not attending school.
The new audit will focus on ensuring Ukrainian schoolchildren’s access to education in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Concurrently, the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine will assess if Ukraine’s education ministry has facilitated online learning for these children and analyze the readiness of the domestic education system to welcome them back.
The countries involved in the campaign have also established a coordination working group, led by representatives from Poland.
After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine witnessed an unprecedented wave of private support for the army. Citizens, big businesses, charitable foundations, and international philanthropists began financing the country’s defense alongside state assistance provided by international partners. Estimates of total private contributions range from tens to hundreds of billions of hryvnias. However, determining the exact amount remains difficult. In many cases, companies combine military aid, humanitarian programs, tax payments, social spending, and employee support in their reporting.
Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, “Steel Front”, has delivered a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million to the 1st “Azov” Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This shipment is part of the Metinvest Group’s ongoing support for the unit in 2025.
On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.
Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.
Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.