Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
September 9, 2025 Culture and education
For Nelson Rodriguez, Education Specialist, UNICEF Ukraine, International Day of Protection from Attacks in Education – is not just another date on the UN calendar, but a reminder of the daily challenges that Ukrainian children face. Nelson travels widely around the country helping to implement UNICEF educational programs, and he has a lot to share with UN News Service readers.
"Children strive to learn under any circumstances"
What strikes Nelson most about the harsh realities of war is the desire of Ukrainian children to return to school, no matter what, to sit at a desk next to their classmates and feel the “normality” of the learning process. “I would definitely note the desire of children to study, to go to school, to communicate with friends, to learn something new. I think this is very important in the current conditions and deserves a special mention,” he says.
Many children, especially those forced to learn entirely online because of security concerns, struggle with social and emotional development. Nelson recalls a teacher who ran into her students at the supermarket — and they didn’t recognize her in real life, away from the computer screen. “Can you imagine a situation where kids don’t see their teacher as a real person at all?” he says.
A lesson interrupted by sirens
Where physical schools remain open, lessons are often interrupted by sirens. Air raid sirens force children and teachers to take shelter, sometimes several times a day.
Nelson recalls a school where a September 1 celebration – with flowers, balloons and a generally joyful atmosphere – was suddenly interrupted by an alarm. “Imagine being six years old, it’s your first day of school, you’re just starting to realize that you have a new life – and suddenly you have to run for cover,” he says.
Imagine: you are six years old, it is your first day of school, you are just beginning to realize that you now have a new life – and suddenly you have to run for shelter
According to Nelson, it is precisely these experiences that shape childhood in Ukraine today. “We tend to think of war primarily as the destruction of infrastructure – and indeed, 10 percent of educational institutions in the country have been destroyed or damaged. But protecting education also means minimizing the constant disruption of learning and uncertainty,” Nelson emphasizes.
In classrooms where children are returning after extended periods of online learning, there may be psychological challenges. “They’re not used to being physically seated next to another child who may be a complete stranger, because they were learning alone in a familiar home environment,” Nelson says.
© DRC Ukraine/S. Koval
UNICEF is helping Ukrainian schools and communities organize extra classes, preschool programs, and catch-up lessons. Shelters have been installed in 90 percent of the country’s schools, allowing more children to return to the classroom. But the emotional toll remains high.
“We need to understand how constant disruption and disruption are having a profound impact on children’s mental health and well-being, and we need to consider how we – UNICEF, our partners and the wider international community – can minimise this impact,” Nelson says.
© UNICEF/A. Filippov
Behind the statistics
For Nelson Rodriguez, the statistics – thousands of damaged schools, a third of students still learning fully or partially online – are just part of a much larger picture. His memory is now perhaps forever imprinted on the anxious faces of Ukrainian children in classrooms and shelters, their resilience in the face of constant danger and their desire for normal school life.
“Protecting education is not just about fixing buildings,” he says. “It’s about ensuring that children can continue to learn, thrive and feel safe, even when the world around them is full of uncertainty.”
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
.