Ukrainian Education Minister says 900 teachers joined Ukrainian Armed Forces

MYKHAILO ZAHORODNII – MONDAY, 20 JUNE 2022

Around 900 teachers have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Among them, 513 are qualified teachers and another 377 are still studying for their teaching qualifications.

These numbers were disclosed by Serhii Shkarlet, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, on 20 June during the national 24/7 newscast.

"As of today, there are around 900 people – 513 qualified teachers and 377 people studying for their qualifications. We are proud of each and every one of them, we have people who have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Ministry of Education, too," Shkarlet said.

The minister also talked about the availability of bomb shelters in schools, which are supposed to resume in-person classes on 1 September.

Out of all schools, 25% have equipped bomb shelters which will allow students to attend school in person.

"As of today, and depending on the security situation at the time, the school year is set to begin [on 1 September - ed.].

Everyone is tired of online [teaching - ed.], but active hostilities continue in eight of the oblasts – it is impossible to resume in-person classes in the areas near the frontline," Shkarlet said.

He noted that it is the responsibility of school founders – in most cases, the local governments – to ensure the availability of adequate bomb shelters in each school.

Earlier, Serhii Horbachov, ombudsman for education, said that only 8% of schools have appropriately equipped bomb shelters.

The Ministry of Education and Science said earlier that some Ukrainian schools will have to organise in-person teaching in shifts because the schools’ shelters might not be able to accommodate all of their students at once.