Education

VO:

Broken windows, burned out classrooms and vandalized property stand as somber reminders of Russia’s war against Ukraine, which engulfed these once vibrant schools.

SOUNDBITE: Hrianyk Oleksandr Principal of School *62, Kharkiv

The building was hit by two artillery shells.

The Classroom was destroyed, all the windows and doors in all the classrooms, halls, and passages were blown out.

VO:

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, numerous schools and kindergartens were hit by airstrikes, artillery, and rockets.

Many were looted and ransacked.

SOUNDBITE:

I was lying on the floor in the basement, and I thought the building was going to collapse.

The enemy has brought us so much pain.

VO:

The war has killed, injured, and traumatized Ukrainian children.

It has also had devastating impact on their access to education.

Russian forces occupied schools, turning them into bases and barracks, where soldiers took shelter, launched military operations, stored weapons, and parked armored vehicles.

SOUNDBITE: Valentina Zarytska Principal, Kukhari School

Of course, we all, children, and parents, want our school to be restored.

We want to be able to work here again.

We want our life to get back to normal.

VO:

Russian soldiers scrawled graffiti on walls, expressing hatred and vitriol towards Ukraine and Ukrainians.

The looted computers and other equipment, which are war crimes.

In some cases, Russian military use of schools made them targets for Ukrainian attacks.

This school in Borodianka, Kyivska region was reduced to ruins after a battle between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian forces in some instances also used schools for military purposes, which may have increased the risk of Russian attacks.

Overall, thousands of schools have been damaged.

SOUNDBITE: Romaniuk Inna Director of Education, Borodianka

It was impossible to hold back the tears.

The school was destroyed, everything was ruined.

The classrooms were looted, no equipment was left.

It was a terrible situation.

VO:

Ukraine, unlike Russia, has endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration and instructed its forces to avoid using schools and kindergartens for military purposes.

Temwani, 11, Zambia: 2020 was a hard year. 

Annie, 16, Grassy Narrows First Nation, Canada: School was cut out about six months ago in November 2020, it is now April, almost May, 2021, so that’s six months. 

Zadie and Mika, 6, Canada:  This is our school and we haven’t been here for many weeks. And now we do work online.

Vuyisenani, 17, South Africa :  1.4 billion students were shut out of schools in 190 countries because of Covid-19. 

Zadie and Mika, 6, Canada: Now we have to spend all day in front of a computer. And we can’t see any of our friends and teachers. 

Sesili, 7, Republic of Georgia: I hate online school. I want to go to school.  

Parwanai, 17, Ritsona Refugee Camp, Greece: This one is a container that we use to have it as a space for the children and for everyone to have access to some lessons.


Covid-19 showed us how unequal education is for kids around the world. And we will probably see the effects for years to come. 


Annie, 16, Grassy Narrows First Nation, Canada:  Grassy Narrows is located an hour north/from the nearest city. We don’t have sort of schooling, no online, absolutely no school. Because internet is quite expensive.

Temwani, 7, Zambia: The introduction to online learning was a real struggle for me because I didn’t have the digital equipment such as a smart phone, a laptop or computer to access online school.

Vuyisenani, 17, South Africa: School was shut down for five months and we weren’t doing anything./Even before Covid hit, our schools were struggling. 

Parwana, 17, Ritsona Refugee Camp, Greece:  We have been far from the school and education for years and even with no answer from the ministry of education in the pandemic and it made the condition of education in the camp very serious and critical.

Vuyisenani 17, South Africa: Kids around the world showed that we all have something in common: we want to learn and we want to work hard.  

Zadie and Mika, 6, Canada: Now it’s time for the government to do the work. Opening the doors is just the beginning. 
Narrator: Education should be at the core of every country’s recovery plans. 

Gor, 16, Armenia: Quality education should be accessible to everyone, including me.