For the fourth consecutive year, children in Odesa are returning to school amidst the threat of shelling. Safety remains the top priority.
120 schools are ready for the academic year, with 92 having their own shelters, and 137 kindergartens.
Nearly 89,000 students are expected, including around 6,000 first-graders.
This year, large-scale ceremonies will not take place due to safety requirements. Celebrations will be held in a compact format in assembly halls or near the entrances to shelters.
Students in elementary and middle school have received all necessary textbooks. For high school students, supply is ongoing, and electronic versions are available on the Ministry of Education's website.
Free meals for students in grades 1-4 and those in vulnerable categories will start on September 8. Approximately two million hryvnias will be allocated daily from the city budget for this purpose.
The academic year will last until May 29, 2026, without an extension into June.
Holidays are planned traditionally: autumn break from October 27 to November 2, winter break from December 27 to January 11, and spring break from March 23 to March 29.
The restoration of four educational institutions damaged by Russia's military aggression continues. The interior work at Gymnasium No. 125 is nearing completion, and the Mikhailivsky Lyceum is also under repair. Inclusive Resource Center No. 1 and Kindergarten No. 283 require reconstruction.
