In Ukraine, 50,000 students over the age of 25 have been expelled: audit results after the enrollment surge

Situation in Ukrainian Education During the War

According to ХВИЛЯ: In Ukraine, about 50,000 students aged over 25 have been expelled due to violations of legislation. An audit revealed a sharp increase in the number of such students after the start of the full-scale war. Before 2022, there were approximately 30,000 students in the older age group, but from 2022 to 2025, their number increased to approximately 230,000.

Currently, over 200,000 students aged over 25 are in the education system. In connection with this, eight criminal proceedings have been opened against officials of educational institutions. The Education Quality Service has also submitted reports to the Ministry of Education and Science recommending the annulment of licenses for two institutions.

Draft Laws and Their Impact

In the context of this surge, draft law No. 13634-1 has been registered, which proposes to limit the right to deferment for college students and those in higher education. Ruslan Gurak noted that for those entering educational institutions to avoid conscription, three aspects are important:

• ease of admission,
• quality of education,
• affordability of education.

This situation reflects the serious challenges faced by the Ukrainian education system during the war, particularly the increase in the number of students enrolling in educational institutions at an older age, often to avoid military service. The expulsion of a significant number of students may indicate the need to review the system of control and monitoring in educational institutions, as well as possible changes in legislation to prevent abuses. Furthermore, new draft laws may significantly affect access to education for youth in conditions of martial law.