Switzerland increases support for rehabilitation of Ukrainian schools

Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has approved an additional CHF 5.5 million ($6.1 million) to renovate and refurbish around 30 schools in Ukraine affected by the fighting in Chernihiv, Odesa and Poltava.

The aim is to ensure that nearly 15,000 schoolchildren have access to a decent and safe education, the press service of the Swiss government reports.

“Russian military aggression has dealt a severe blow to Ukraine's education sector. Thousands of schools across the country have been damaged or destroyed, and many teachers have fled the conflict zones, thereby disrupting the education of millions of students,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the project involves the installation of secure multi-purpose classrooms to ensure uninterrupted learning, even during air raid warnings.

This additional Swiss contribution will also enable the DECIDE project to provide technical and pedagogical support for online education for displaced children and children living in areas particularly vulnerable to hostilities where in-person teaching is unfeasible.

The DECIDE project is being implemented in close cooperation with the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science, the Ukrainian Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, and local authorities.