Four Million Children Disrupted by War
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has severely disrupted the education of approximately 4 million children, with an alarming 600,000 unable to access in-person learning due to the violence, attacks, and displacement.
This week, a high-level UN mission to Ukraine included leadership from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), who met with affected children and local partners to gain insights into the educational challenges facing youth amidst the brutal war. The mission concluded at the Fourth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, where ECW called upon global leaders to safeguard education from attacks and to significantly increase funding for life-saving educational initiatives.
Urgent Need for Educational Support
“This atrocious war must end immediately! As long as children, adolescents, and teachers in Ukraine endure this unimaginable horror, schools must be shielded from violence,” stated Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait. We, as a global community, have a responsibility to ensure that all children in Ukraine, including those who are refugees, receive the safety, hope, and opportunities that come with quality education. Supporting education is a commitment to recovery, peace, security, and justice, not only for Ukraine but for the world at large. It unlocks the vast potential of future generations.”
Since 2017, ECW and its strategic donor partners have allocated over US$26.9 million to support holistic education programs in Ukraine. Collaborating with a consortium of organisations, including Finn Church Aid, the Kyiv School of Economics, Save the Children, and UNICEF—alongside the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science—these initiatives have benefited more than 360,000 children, of which around 65% are girls.
Support for Education in Crisis
“The backing from Education Cannot Wait is crucial for children, their families, and teachers who strive to keep classrooms operational despite the war’s devastating effects,” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine.
ECW has dedicated US$20.4 million to implement a Multi-Year Resilience Programme in Ukraine. This investment aims to mobilise additional funding to reach over 150,000 children across ten of the most affected regions. These initiatives are designed to enhance learning outcomes by providing safer and more accessible educational environments, expanding digital learning resources, and offering alternative education opportunities.
Addressing the needs of children affected by conflict, there is a strong focus on mental health and psychosocial support, along with targeted assistance for girls and children living with disabilities.
Partnerships Driving Change
During the previous Education Cannot Wait High-Level Financing Conference, the Global Business Coalition for Education (GBCE) committed to raising US$50 million from the corporate sector to support the strategic initiatives of ECW. In collaboration with GBCE, TheirWorld, HP, and Microsoft, US$39 million in partnerships and device donations have already been secured, resulting in over 70,000 laptops distributed to schools, teachers, and vulnerable individuals both within Ukraine and in neighbouring countries.
A Call for Additional Funding
As the new school year began in early September, devastating attacks have once again impacted educational facilities across Ukraine. Approximately 600,000 school-aged children currently lack access to in-person learning, and more than 1,300 educational institutions have suffered damage or destruction since the war’s onset, according to UNICEF. Even those attending school face disruptions due to the constant threat of bombings, further compromising the quality and continuity of education.
Education Cannot Wait and its partners are calling for an additional US$600 million to meet the global targets outlined in the Fund’s strategic plan, ensuring that children in crisis-affected countries have access to quality, holistic education and the hope for a brighter future.
