Education Amidst Adversity: Odessa's Students Return to School
For the fourth consecutive year, children in Odessa are returning to school amidst the threat of conflict. Ensuring safety remains a top priority.
A total of 120 schools are ready for the academic year, with 92 equipped with shelters, alongside 137 kindergartens.
Approximately 89,000 students are expected, including around 6,000 first-graders.
This year, large-scale ceremonies will not take place due to safety concerns. Celebrations will occur in smaller formats, either in assembly halls or near the entrances to shelters.
Students in primary and middle grades are fully equipped with textbooks. Supplies for high school students are ongoing, and electronic versions are available on the Ministry of Education's website.
Free meals for students in grades 1-4 and those from disadvantaged categories will begin on September 8. Nearly two million hryvnias will be allocated daily from the city budget for this purpose.
The academic year will last until May 29, 2026, without an extension into June.
Traditional vacation periods are set: autumn from October 27 to November 2, winter from December 27 to January 11, and spring from March 23 to March 29.
The restoration of four educational institutions damaged due to Russia's military aggression continues. Internal work is finishing at Gymnasium No. 125, while Mykhailivskyi Lyceum is also undergoing repairs. Inclusive Resource Center No. 1 and Kindergarten No. 283 need reconstruction.
