2022 Achievements: Ukraine

2022 Achievements | Strengthening coordination for a robust Education in Emergencies response in Ukraine Since the war broke out on 24th of February 2022 nearly two-thirds of Ukrainian children have been displaced either in-country or to bordering countries, including an estimated 5.7 million school-aged children (ages 3-18), including approx. 570,000 children with disabilities, Ukraine had very close to total enrollment before the war. Education facilities have been attacked from the very beginning of the war and continued to be targeted throughout 2022, creating an unpredictable and unsafe learning environment leading to increased learning loss. According to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, in the first four months of the war, 1,849 educational facilities were damaged amid ongoing hostilities and 212 were destroyed. The situation has further impacted mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of students and teachers. 75% of parents reported that their children have symptoms of psychological trauma, 90% of teachers (83% women) self-reported their psychological state of mind as worsening. More than 15 million people (out of a population of approx. 41 million) need humanitarian assistance; 34% of those (5.2 million including teachers) have education needs. In 2022, Ukraine Education Cluster partners reached a total of 1,336,746 school-aged children with the provision of Education in Emergencies services. The Global Education Cluster immediately deployed its Rapid Response Team members (a Senior Coordinator and Information Management Officer) to remotely reinforce the Ukraine Education Cluster. Immediate support provided by the RRT include development of the education component of the OCHA Flash Appeal. The RRTs also supported development of the Education Cannot Wait First Emergency Response (FER) for Ukraine. The deployment lasted eight weeks, until interim Cluster Coordinators from each Cluster Lead Agency took over. This was a first for GEC in fastness and possible due to having a Ukraine focal point and a heightened awareness of the situation. The Rapid deployments ensured that Education was represented and visible from the moment the war began; both in terms of focal point for the many national and international actors, and as engaged party to the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group. With support from the CLA, the Ukraine Education Cluster also strengthened monitoring attacks on education, and supported authorities in designing a rapid Needs Assessment and analyzing data, which were reviewed by the GEC and REACH, to inform the current and future Education in Emergencies response. The GEC maintained its support all through 2022 and will continue its assistance to the Ukraine Cluster in 2023.