Since September, more than 1,000 Kharkiv children have been able to return to in-person education thanks to an underground school. This is the first fully equipped underground educational facility in Ukraine. The Kharkiv authorities started construction of the school in 2023 and completed it in a very short time – only five months. In May 2024, the school opened its doors for the first time to more than 600 young people from Kharkiv, and it is now working at full capacity for the new school year.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Kharkiv has been under constant attack. During this time, 796 educational institutions in Kharkiv have been completely or partially destroyed. Online education was the only way for local children to study safely during the first year and a half of the war due to the security situation. However, the Kharkiv authorities did not give up hope that they could allow students to return to class and guarantee them a safe education. At first, they organized classes in metro stations, which the city authorities began to equip in the summer of 2023, and now classes are being held in the first permanent underground school.

"If we had the opportunity, we would have taught all the children in Kharkiv exclusively offline," said Ihor Terekhov, Mayor of Kharkiv. “Unfortunately, the security situation forces us to continue building underground schools, reconstructing shelters, and expanding the network of underground schools. After all, there are more than 50,000 school-age children physically in Kharkiv, and we are currently able to put only about 5,000 of them behind desks."

The Kharkiv city government built the underground school using funds from its own budget, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) helped to equip it. Children’s safety is the main goal. At first glance, the facility looks like an innovative school - with modern equipment, a resource room, an assembly hall, play areas, a medical office, and a dining hall. But the school is built in a large bomb shelter to allow students to attend classes while remaining safe during Russian airstrikes. The school is equipped with a generator to provide alternative power, it has two entrances and exits, and it is also equipped to accommodate the needs of individuals with limited mobility by featuring an elevator and specially equipped bathrooms.

"Because of the war, teachers and children lost the opportunity to study fully and communicate with each other,” said Halyna Faktorovska, who teaches Ukrainian language and literature. “Kharkiv residents survived shelling and lived in basements with constant power outages. Teaching subjects fully was of course out of the question. Now teachers are able to communicate with children face to face. The magic of live communication cannot be replaced by online formats. Teachers have noticed that not only has the educational process improved, but the so has the psychological state of the children. This safe space also had a positive effect on the teachers themselves. The opportunity to conduct high-quality and effective classes motivates teachers. Here we feel safe and can focus on the children. Despite the war, we must think about the future of our children - and, importantly, quality education."

Kharkiv is well known for its robust education system, but constant Russian attacks have made the city rethink its long-term approach to learning. In fall 2023, the local authorities identified the construction of underground schools as a strategic solution that would allow students to study safely and in person. Realizing that this would require significant resources, the city approached international organizations to join the initiative.

"To start, the Kharkiv Investment Agency communal institution presented a project for an underground school at an international forum," said Tetyana Stolyarenko, Advisor to the Mayor Kharkiv. “The Kharkiv mayor had already made the decision to build this school. At the same time, we were looking for international organizations that could help with construction, materials, and technical equipment. After the forum, our international partners showed interest in this project. The mayor held several meetings with representatives of the USAID Democratic Governance Eastern (DG East) Activity. Together, we worked on the list of material and technical equipment required for this school. We took all the wishes of the Industrial District’s educators into account. The whole team worked on this achievement so that our young Kharkiv residents could feel as comfortable as possible in the new school."

The school does not only serve as a space for primary education. It is also equipped with the latest breakthroughs in science and technology in mind to allow students to acquire up-to-date technical knowledge and skills. In addition to furniture and IT equipment for the school’s premises, the USAID Democratic Governance East (DG East) Activity provided specialized equipment for classrooms and laboratories, including an electronic microscope, a 3D printer, and robotics equipment.

"The underground school has modern high-tech equipment -- computers, laptops, interactive panel displays, and more. This makes it possible to create a modern learning environment, make education interesting, and significantly expand the capabilities of teachers and students,” said Olena Zbytska, Head of the Department of Education of the Industrial District of the Kharkiv City Council. “Classes will be conducted daily in two shifts. Additionally, every Saturday, short classes will be held in the underground school to prepare children of older preschool age for school."

Recent Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv have demonstrated the importance of the city’s first purpose-built underground school for protecting student’s safety, and it has also become a model for other initiatives.

"This is an absolutely unique and important project not only for Kharkiv, but for all of Ukraine,” Mayor Terekhov said. “We are the first to build a real underground school according to the highest and most modern safety standards to enable more children to study in a normal format. Zaporizhzhia is currently implementing a similar project based on the example of our underground school. I am sure that other cities will take the initiative in the future, and we are always open and ready to help and share our experiences and progress."

Kharkiv is not stopping in its efforts to provide children with an environment where they can learn and feel safe. The city is currently building three more underground schools with its local budget.