Safety first: education official urges schools to rethink September 1 festivities
With Ukraine's schools braced for another wartime year, the country's education ombudswoman, Nadiia Leshchyk, has warned that large gatherings at schools on September 1 — including the traditional first-bell assemblies — carry serious danger because of possible Russian attacks. She called on school principals to abandon mass celebrations and instead organize the start of the academic year in ways that reduce the risk to students, teachers, and everyone else involved.
Crowds make people harder to protect, Leshchyk said. If an air-raid siren goes off, she explained, it would be extremely difficult to move a large number of children to safety quickly from an open area.
“Given the security situation in the country and the real threat of shelling, I want to stress: holding mass events, including school assemblies, on September 1 and during the school year is unsafe,” Leshchyk said.
She recommended several steps for a safer start to the year:
- conducting safety briefings;
- checking that shelters are ready;
- ensuring children receive psychological support.
“A child’s safety is our shared responsibility. Let’s make September 1 something students and parents remember as safe, caring, calm, and secure. Let the new school year begin without danger,” she added.
Separately, on September 1, 2026, Ukrainian schools are set to hold a nationwide lesson titled “Language of Dignity: Seeing the Person Behind Words.” Organized under the National Barrier-Free Strategy launched by First Lady Olena Zelenska, and developed with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and UNICEF Ukraine, the lesson will focus on respectful communication, words of support, and the importance of approaching people without prejudice or stereotypes.
As part of winter preparations, the government has allocated nearly UAH 77 million to help schools get ready. The goal, according to officials, is to keep learning possible even as the security situation in the country remains difficult.
Leshchyk’s statement puts the spotlight on safety as a central issue in education during wartime. Rethinking how schools mark celebrations may be an essential step to protect children and staff. Her recommendations also show that keeping schools running in these tough conditions requires more than logistics — schools need a comprehensive approach that includes physical safety, emergency readiness, and emotional support for students.
In light of the ongoing threats to school safety, the challenges faced by students and educational institutions continue to mount. For instance, over 300 students from a Kyiv gymnasium are set to be relocated to other schools as a direct consequence of recent Russian attacks. This situation underscores the urgent need for schools to adapt to the current security landscape. To learn more about this significant development, read the full story regarding the transfer of students.