Title: Students in Kharkiv, Ukraine Attend School in Underground Metro Amid Ongoing Conflict
Date: September 5, 2023
Location: Kharkiv, Ukraine
On the first day of school in Kharkiv, Ukraine, young students gathered in makeshift classrooms set up in underground metro stations due to the ongoing conflict with Russia. The underground classrooms provided a safe environment for learning, protecting the children from the constant threat of airstrikes.
Since the start of the invasion in February 2022, over 1,300 schools in areas controlled by the Ukrainian government have been destroyed, leading to profound learning loss among Ukrainian children, according to UNICEF. Online classes have become the norm in Kharkiv, where the launch and impact of missiles from Russian soil are measured in seconds. To supplement computer-based learning and offer hardened shelter, officials in Kharkiv launched a voluntary initiative for parents and students who want to learn in a physical classroom.
Despite the unfamiliar setting, typical first-day rituals played out, with emotional parents capturing proud moments on their cellphones and teachers guiding their students through lesson plans. Many students wore traditional vyshyvankas, crisp white shirts with embroidered designs. Parents and teachers expressed their support for the program, emphasizing that it provides children with a semblance of a normal education and social interaction with their peers, even amidst the ongoing conflict.
Approximately 1,000 students have already signed up for the program, which amounts to less than one percent of Kharkiv’s schoolchildren. However, national polling suggests that roughly 20 percent of parents desire in-person classes, indicating the potential for increased enrollment. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov highlighted the importance of socialization for children who have been unable to study in their usual schools due to the conflict.
The subway station schools in Kharkiv offer necessary facilities such as bathrooms and air ducts. Nurses are available to attend to any physical ailments, while psychologists quietly observe the students to support their emotional well-being. Families displaced from front line areas have sought refuge in Kharkiv, with many finding the program to be a much-needed opportunity for their children to experience a different educational environment.
Some parents expressed relief at the return to normalcy after last year’s widespread disruptions. They noted that although recess activities must be conducted indoors due to safety concerns, educators have found ways to keep children engaged with games throughout the day. For these parents, the opportunity for their children, such as 7-year-old Sonia, to interact with other students in a physical setting is invaluable.
Despite the ongoing conflict and the accompanying air raid sirens, the excitement and energy of students and teachers in the underground classrooms were palpable. First-grade teacher Hanna Neelova emphasized the positive impact of being in the same room as her students, stating that it revitalized her and the students after a year and a half of remote learning.
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, initiatives like the underground metro school program in Kharkiv play a crucial role in ensuring that children have access to education and a safe learning environment.