Ukrainian children ‘two years behind’ due to war – educational deputy minister

Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Nadiya Kuzmychova, warned about poor perfomance of Ukrainian schoolchildren arguing teenarers are now “at least two years” behind in their studies, which can have prove costly for the country in the long run.

“The educational losses we are already witnessing are extremely serious. According to PISA-2022 data, the level of knowledge of Ukrainian teenagers lags at least two years behind what is required, and this is a warning signal for the whole society. Educational losses not only impact the individual development of children – they could also potentially hinder the economic and social progress of the entire country,” stressed Kuzmychova.

She argued that  forced relocations and disrupted schooling during the wartime saw a gloomy trend of chidlren having lower scores and fewer competencies that threw a wrench in their soft skills, socialization, and future professional opportunities.

The World Bank predcits that war-related problem of Ukrainian education will lead to billions in lost income over the lifetimes of the current generation of students.

“This is a real threat to our human capital and the development of the country as a whole. We are currently working on a strategy to return children to in-person learning – this is not just a short-term solution. It is our responsibility to the future of the state and our chance to equip children with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need for a successful life and to ensure a strong future for Ukraine,” said Kuzmychova.