New Guidelines for Distance Learning during Wartime
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has approved new guidelines regulating distance learning under wartime conditions.
This was reported on the official website of the Ministry, according to Ukrinform.
«This concerns orders No. 1112 (dated August 7, 2024) and No. 1115 (dated September 8, 2020). These changes are part of the «Offline School» initiative, which aims to ensure quality education for every child, regardless of their location — whether in government-controlled territories, temporarily occupied areas, or abroad,» the statement reads.
The ministry emphasized that the decision regarding changes in the organization of distance learning resulted from systematic cooperation with communities and regions and takes into account proposals made during public discussions. «The approved changes are tailored to the needs and specifics of frontline and border regions with Russia,” the Ministry assured.
Thus, the new regulations include class size norms: a minimum of 20 students. However, reductions are allowed: to 10 for schools in temporarily occupied territories, frontline areas, and villages; to 15 for other cities. These requirements do not apply to specialized and special schools.
Moreover, the absence of certain class sections is permissible: a school can operate remotely even if one or two class sections are missing (for example, without the 7th grade).
Additionally, separate classes for Ukrainian studies are introduced: students learn under a unified educational program within one class.
Children abroad can: study remotely only in Ukrainian studies (5-8 hours/week) if they attend a local school; study entirely remotely if they do not attend a local school; choose individual forms such as external studies or home schooling.
For children in temporarily occupied territories, educational patronage is provided. This means individual learning with payment to the teacher, even if there are no open classes in the school.
Furthermore, if a child is in an area where combat operations are ongoing or possible, they can continue their education remotely at their original school without needing to transfer to another institution for distance learning. However, if there is an option to attend in-person classes with shelter available at the school, this remains a priority for students.
The Ministry is also establishing a staffing reserve for teachers from frontline and affected regions. Teachers who may be left without classes will have the opportunity to undergo training and receive an average salary. The reserve will concern educators from Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv regions. The relevant changes to the staffing reserve decree are expected to be approved by the government soon.
It is noted that all adapted changes regarding distance learning will be implemented from September 1, 2025.
As previously reported, the Cabinet of Ministers allocated UAH 370 million for creating modern educational spaces and STEM laboratories.
