A recent initiative in Kharkiv has offered classrooms within the city's metro stations, enabling over 2,000 kids to continue study. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to the destruction of many schools in Ukrainian cities.

Kharkiv

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

In an innovative response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the city of Kharkiv has begun utilizing its metro stations as classrooms. This measure has been taken to counter the negative educational impact of Russia's invasion, which has resulted in significant damage to school infrastructure across Ukraine. By adapting these underground spaces, over 2,000 children have been afforded the opportunity to continue their studies in a safe environment.

The initiative underscores the resilience and adaptability of communities in wartime, offering a semblance of normalcy and continuity for the young population affected by the conflict. By repurposing the metro stations, Kharkiv is not only safeguarding the educational future of its children but also demonstrating an innovative approach to crisis management.



Ukraine establishes schools in subways in Kharkiv

The bell signals the start of another day. Everything here is as you'd expect. Children, exercise books, whiteboard and teacher. But there is one key difference. This school is subterranean, built within the Kharkiv metro. Russian missiles could strike this city at a moment's notice, so it's better for the children to learn below ground. It's safer in the subway, because there are explosions outside, and our school could be destroyed. These first graders have three lessons in the metro station today, followed by two more at home online. Once they've left, other classes take their place. This rotation gives as many children as possible the opportunity to learn in a classroom. Of course, the children and we teachers miss normal education very much, by normal I mean face-to-face communication. So when the opportunity arose to learn here, we were all very happy, children, parents and teachers alike. Olena says that it felt strange to teach here at first, but she soon got used to it. There are many sounds down here besides the trains, but we don't react to those anymore. They don't bother us anymore. Schools have now been built within five of Kharkiv's metro stations, adapted from what were once technical rooms and passages. Ventilation and video cameras have been installed throughout, while teachers are helped by classroom assistants, psychologists and administrators. This was pretty new for all of us, so yes, it had been difficult at times. But there are no unsolvable problems, there is only unwillingness to solve them. We had to learn how to solve them, we had to learn how to deal with them. There are no unsolvable problems, there is only unwillingness to solve them. We had the desire to create all of this. More than 2,200 students attend these metro schools, but there is still not enough space for everyone. More than 100 schools in Kharkiv have been damaged by shelling, many beyond repair. New underground schools are being built across Kharkiv to accommodate more students, but the children dream of a time when these facilities will no longer be necessary. I would like to go back to school, a normal school. It's more fun there than here. For now at least, these metro schools are giving children a small taste of the structure they once took for granted.

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Ukraine Invasion