Parents' interest in schools in the Odesa region has declined over the past year

Parents’ interest in schools in the Odesa region has fallen by 12% over the past year and by 23% in August 2026, according to data from Education.ua. Families are increasingly looking for safer regions.

This is evidenced by the results of a survey and analysis by Education.ua.

In 2026, compared to 2025, the number of page views for schools in the Odesa region decreased by 12%. In Kyiv, it fell by 9%, and in the Dnipropetrovsk region, by 1%.

A comparison of August 2026 with August 2025 showed a greater decline. In the Odesa region, it amounted to 23%; in Kyiv, 14%; and in the Dnipropetrovsk region, 3%.

At the same time, interest in schools in the western and central regions increased. In August, schools in the Rivne region (+138%), Vinnytsia region (+136%), Ternopil region (+135%), and Volyn region (+113%) were viewed the most.

Read also:Odesa Region Is Prepared to Change the Format of School Instruction Due to Security Threats

According to a survey of 500 Education.ua users, 31% of respondents are looking for a new school in another region due to deteriorating security. For 54%, safety could be the deciding factor in changing schools.

Additionally, 19% of parents might withdraw their children from school if in-person instruction is not available, and 12% would do so if remote learning is not offered. Forty percent of those surveyed need warm shelters where their children can study during alerts. Another 28% emphasize the need for reliable heating and backup power.

According to Minister of Education and Science Andriy Butenko, only 42% of school shelters are adequately equipped to hold classes during air raid alerts.

The draft state budget for 2027 allocates 3.7 billion hryvnias for shelters in educational institutions, compared to 6 billion hryvnias in 2026. The Ministry of Finance attributes the reduction to the underutilization of the subsidy: last year, approximately 70% of the funds were utilized.

Ірина Глухова