War's lost generation? The future of Ukraine's children
Ninety percent of Ukrainian students who fled abroad during the war say they don’t plan to return to study in Ukraine. While this isn’t an official statistic, these numbers reflect a harsh reality: the war is reshaping not only the present but also how families envision their future.
For many Ukrainian families forced to seek safety abroad, the end of 2024 feels worlds apart from the hope they clung to at the war's outset in 2022. A recent survey of 30 Ukrainian students now abroad reveals that 27 of them don’t plan to return for higher education in Ukraine. What appears to be a personal choice is actually a signal of the country’s long-term challenges.
New realities for education abroad
Most Ukrainian children abroad are now enrolled in local schools, navigating classes in a foreign language. Beyond the usual challenges of immigration, they’re adapting to different cultural norms and educational standards.
This academic year (fall 2024), foreign schools have largely phased out special support programs for Ukrainian students. Language classes have been scaled back, and schools now expect students to perform on par with local peers. After 2–2.5 years, many institutions believe Ukrainian children should be fully integrated into the new system.
This shift has increased academic pressure—and stress. While some families try to maintain ties with Ukraine through online education in Ukrainian schools, juggling dual curricula has proven extremely difficult, particularly for younger and middle school students.
Faced with these challenges, families often make a painful decision. More often than not, the choice doesn’t favor Ukraine.
Education in wartime Ukraine
Ukrainian teachers are also grappling with immense challenges, from teaching in difficult or dangerous conditions to adapting materials for online formats. Their students might be scattered across the globe, dealing with different time zones and cultural contexts.
Sometimes, teachers struggle to adjust. Calls for families to "return to Ukraine for proper education" fail to account for the realities of war and displacement. These demands risk alienating families and eroding trust in the Ukrainian education system.
The anxiety of turning 18
Another layer of stress comes from discussions about lowering Ukraine’s draft age to 18. While officials have not made drastic changes, even the idea stirs anxiety, especially for mothers of teenage boys. Some families fear future conscription might begin immediately after high school or college, prompting many to delay or entirely reconsider their children’s return to Ukraine.
What can be done?
The situation is dire, but there are ways to reverse the trend. Ensuring children see Ukraine as their home—and a place for their future—will require deliberate action.
- Clear communication campaigns
Ukrainian media and government could ease fears by providing transparent information about military service, education, and support for Ukrainians abroad, especially boys.
- Flexible online education
The Ukrainian education system could improve by creating adaptable, high-quality online classes for students abroad, accommodating time zones and providing a sense of community.
- Support for teachers
Teachers need financial and professional support, including training on how to engage with displaced students and their families.
- Creating future opportunities
Ukraine must develop attractive opportunities for young people—scholarships, career programs, and guarantees for graduates—to make staying or returning an appealing choice.
The decisions these families make now will shape the depth of Ukraine’s demographic and societal recovery. If Ukraine wants to grow and prosper, it must create the conditions for its children to see their future at home—not abroad.
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