The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has approved changes to the distance learning regulations under wartime conditions.

This was reported on the MОN website, as conveyed by Ukrinform.

«This relates to orders No. 1112 (dated August 7, 2024) and No. 1115 (dated September 8, 2020). These changes are part of the initiative «School Offline», aimed at ensuring quality education for every child regardless of their location, whether in government-controlled areas, temporarily occupied territories, or abroad», the statement says.

The Ministry stated that the decision for changes in distance learning organization is a result of systematic collaboration with communities and regions, taking into account proposals provided during public discussions. «The approved changes are adapted to the needs and specifics of frontline and border regions with Russia», MОN assures.

Thus, the changes stipulate new class size norms: a minimum of 20 students. At the same time, reductions are allowed: down to 10 for schools in temporarily occupied territories, frontline areas, and villages; down to 15 for other cities. These requirements do not apply to special and specialized schools.

Additionally, it is possible to have no separate classes: a school can operate remotely even if one or two class sections are missing (for example, without 7th grade).

Furthermore, separate classes for Ukrainian studies are being introduced: students learn according to 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 fully remotely if they do not attend a local school; or choose individual forms such as external studies or homeschooling.

For children in temporarily occupied territories, pedagogical patronage is provided. This involves individual teaching with payment to the teacher, even if there are no open classes in the school.

Moreover, if a child is in an area where combat actions are ongoing or possible, they can continue studying remotely at their school from which they evacuated. They do not need to transfer to another institution for distance learning. However, if there is an opportunity to attend in-person classes with shelter available in the school, this remains a priority for students.

MОN is also establishing a reserve of teachers from frontline and affected regions. Teachers who might be without workload can undergo training and receive an average salary. This reserve will apply to educators from Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv regions. The relevant changes to the reserve policy are expected to be approved by the government shortly.

It is noted that all adapted changes regarding distance learning will be implemented from September 1, 2025.

As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers allocated 370 million UAH for the establishment of modern educational spaces and STEM laboratories.