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.
Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.
The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.
In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.
Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.
Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.