Kyiv, October 25, 2024 – The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Ukraine will renovate 11 schools in the Kirovohrad, Lviv, Poltava, Khmelnytsky and Cherkasy oblasts with financial support from the German government. The “Rehabilitation of Schools in War-Affected Areas” project also includes furniture, providing educational facilities with new blackboards, desks, chairs and bookshelves.
Planned repairs include repairing facilities damaged by hostilities and replacing failed systems. Special attention is paid to energy efficiency and compliance with the principles of sustainable development. Modernization also includes decoration, as the learning environment needs to be beneficial to both students and teachers.
German Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Jaeger underlined the importance of supporting the rebuilding of Ukraine’s schools as an important element of the overall national recovery strategy. “Almost three years have passed since the start of the full-scale invasion, and throughout this period the German government has stood by Ukraine and provided comprehensive support. and an investment in the development of a new generation of progressive Ukrainians who can rebuild the country and make it stronger,” he said.
Jaco Sirius, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, emphasized the value of strengthening the capacity of local communities. “The return of students and teachers to schools means that communities, including the education sector, have successfully built their own resilience. Resuming the educational process in modernized classrooms means It not only symbolizes progress, but also gives hope for a better future. At the same time, we at UNDP are still working hard to ensure that all Ukrainian students have safe and free access to face-to-face learning. “We understand there is a lot of work to do,” he said.
background
According to the Third Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA3), 13% of Ukraine’s educational infrastructure has been damaged by hostilities, including approximately 4,000 educational facilities.
UNDP in Ukraine, in collaboration with development partners, is systematically working to rebuild war-affected educational institutions. In particular, with support from the European Union as part of the EU4UASchools: Build Back Better project, UNDP has rebuilt 42 schools and re-equipped a further 109 schools in 10 Oblasts of Ukraine.
Media inquiries: Yulia Sams, UNDP Director of Public Relations in Ukraine. Email: yuliia.samus@undp.org
