How education in the Odesa region is changing during the war: key takeaways from the august education conference

Opening the conference, Head of the Odesa Regional State (Military) Administration Oleh KIPER emphasized that the region’s main priorities remain children’s safety, access to and quality of education, the development of an inclusive environment, the renewal of school transport, and support for teachers. He stressed that achieving these goals requires joint efforts from the state, local authorities, communities, educators, and parents.

Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Education, Science and Innovation Serhii KOLEBOSHYN thanked educators for the responsibility with which they work with children. He also shared a touching memory about the special feeling of unexpectedly meeting former students on the street years later — and warmly recognizing each other despite the passage of time.

Director of the Department of Education and Science of the Odesa Regional State Administration Oleksandr LONCHAK drew attention to the special role of educators during the war. According to him, while Ukraine is fighting for freedom, teachers continue working with children even during air raid alerts and shelling. He emphasized that every new academic year is not simply the beginning of classes, but also a confirmation that the fight for Ukraine’s future continues.

He also focused on demographic challenges, the safety and energy independence of educational institutions, school meals, the development of upper secondary and vocational education, and other important issues. He noted that the war and forced migration have deepened demographic problems and affected the number of students, while the Odesa region continues to welcome children from other parts of Ukraine. Among the region’s priorities are creating a safe and resilient educational environment, ensuring children’s access to quality education, and developing a modern network of academic and vocational lyceums. He also stressed the importance of rethinking the role of vocational education, as skilled workers will be essential for Ukraine’s future recovery and reconstruction.

UNICEF Education Projects Coordinator Anatolii IHNATOVYCH highlighted the importance of supporting children and educators during the war. He noted that UNICEF is working to overcome learning losses, restore educational infrastructure, and develop professional support for teachers, including through the established Teacher Support Centres. According to him, the key task is not only to restore buildings and equipment, but also to create conditions in which every child remains connected to education and every teacher has the opportunity to work effectively. He also emphasized that, during the war, it is especially important to remain humane, not to wait passively for change, but to take action every day for a better future and high-quality Ukrainian education.

Founder of “Progressive and Strong”, Bohdan FERENS, presented the results of a study outlined in the analytical report “What You Should Know About the Teacher Professional Development System: The Experience of Southern Ukraine”. The report was prepared as part of the programme “Strengthening Teaching and Learning Processes in the Southern Regions of Ukraine”, which “Progressive and Strong” is implementing in cooperation with UNICEF.

The head of one of the largest educational organizations noted that a teacher’s professional development should not be measured only by the number of certificates received. Most importantly, it should be measured by whether teachers gain practical tools that they can use in the educational process as soon as the next day. That is why, according to him, key areas of support for educators include professional development, psychological support, the exchange of experience, and access to modern European practices. As part of the cooperation between “Progressive and Strong” and UNICEF, eight Teacher Support Centres have been opened. They have become spaces not only for learning, but also for professional interaction and support for educators.

Bohdan FERENS also drew attention to the challenges faced by educators: learning losses, safety, inclusion, mental health, support for children and teachers themselves, as well as digitalization and artificial intelligence. In conditions of constant stress, professional support is especially important, as teachers cannot fully support their students if they themselves are close to exhaustion. Therefore, a modern system of professional development should provide not just formal training hours, but real tools for solving the everyday challenges faced by educators.

During the conference, participants also presented the results of a geodemographic analysis of the Odesa region and discussed learning losses and ways to overcome them, the development of inclusive education, safety issues, vocational education, youth policy, extracurricular education, and digital transformation.

The August Conference became a space for jointly reflecting on what education in the Odesa region should look like during the war and throughout the recovery period. Its main focus was on safety, the quality of education, and support for the people who ensure its daily functioning.

After all, the resilience of the education system is determined not only by the number of restored schools or newly introduced technologies. Above all, it depends on the system’s ability to support children and educators, create safe conditions for them, and provide opportunities for learning and professional development even in the face of constant challenges and change.

The event was organized in partnership with the Department of Education and Science of the Odesa Regional State Administration, UNICEF, and “Progressive and Strong”. The event coordinator from “Progressive and Strong” was HR Coordinator Liudmyla KORNUTA.