Educational revolution in the south: digital centers have opened up new opportunities for children and youth

In the south of Ukraine, spaces have been created that have become not only support for learning but also a place of leisure. It is planned to open 30 more such centers in Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Kherson regions.

This was reported by the press service of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration.

In the south of Ukraine, spaces have been created that have become not only support for learning but also a place of leisure. Since the beginning of 2024, 16 Digital Learning Centers (DLCs) have been successfully operating in Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Kherson regions. And with the start of the new school year, 30 more have been added.

According to Vitaliy Kim, head of Mykolaiv Regional Education Administration, digital learning centers are extremely important for the region, as some communities have been studying remotely for three years due to the security situation.

"We currently have 18 such centers in the region. They have become popular among both children and adults as they provide a safe space with modern conditions for learning and communication," said Vitaliy Kim.

"In these centers, children can not only study, but also spend their leisure time in a useful way. For this purpose, modern innovative technologies are used, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, case studies, and even the Minecraft game format.

According to AIDE Executive Director Maria Boguslav, the digital centers were created in a very short time: From renovating the premises to supplying equipment and organizing the educational process using the "flipped classroom" model. This approach puts the student in the center of attention, where he or she works independently on the material using gamified technologies, and the teacher becomes a mentor and support.

The project was implemented through the cooperation of UNICEF, the Association for Innovative and Digital Education (AIDE) and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and with financial support from the Government of Japan.

By studying at the digital center, each student will be able to create a Passport of Abilities for modern professions through special testing, determine their dream profession, and build an individual program for further education and career.

In September, the Government allocated about UAH 5 billion from the budget to equip shelters in schools in eight regions, including Mykolaiv, Odesa and Kherson. Currently, more than 70% of the region's schools teach children offline or in a mixed format.

Анна Бальчінос