New rules for distance learning: what will change from September 1

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has approved amendments to the orders defining the peculiarities of organizing distance learning under martial law.

What is changing in distance learning

New rules for filling remote classes

The minimum number of students in a distance class is 20. However, school founders can reduce this number:

• Up to 10 students - for institutions in the temporarily occupied, frontline territories, villages and towns throughout Ukraine;
• up to 15 students for schools in other cities.

The requirements for filling remote classes do not apply to specialized and special education institutions.

Remote work of a school is possible even without all classroom parallels

An institution of any type may operate remotely if it has no more than two parallel classes. For example, a school may have remote grades 1-6, 8-11, but no grade 7.

Separate class for studying the Ukrainian component

Within one remote class, students should study only one educational program. This will help the teacher to work more effectively with children of different categories - those who are in Ukraine on government-controlled territory, in the TOT or abroad.

Distance learning for children abroad

If a child attends school in the country of residence, distance learning is available for him or her in the Ukrainian component of a Ukrainian school (5-8 hours per week, without overload).

If a child does not attend a local school, he or she can receive education fully remotely in a Ukrainian educational institution.

There are also individual forms of education available for children abroad - external or family education.

Distance learning for children in TOT

Children in TOT can study under pedagogical patronage. This is an individualized education based on the child's needs and security circumstances.

Even if a school does not open any classes, it can continue to operate in the form of pedagogical patronage. This form involves paying a teacher for teaching a particular child.

In addition, if a child is in a territory where hostilities are ongoing or may occur, he or she can continue to study remotely at the school from which he or she left. He or she does not need to transfer to another institution for distance learning.

At the same time, if there is an opportunity to attend in-person classes if there is a shelter in the school, this remains a priority for students.

Human resources to support teachers

To ensure a smooth transition to the changes, the Ministry of Education and Science is introducing a personnel reserve: teachers who may be left without a workload will be able to receive training and receive an average salary. This applies to teachers from Dnipropetrovs'k, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv regions.

All adapted changes to the peculiarities of distance learning will be implemented from September 1, 2025.

Олена Болган