Kherson’s education system severely impacted by russian invasion: Workforce nearly halved

The educational sector in Ukraine’s Kherson region has suffered a dramatic decline in workforce numbers since the onset of russia’s full-scale invasion, with staffing levels now nearly halved. This alarming statistic is part of a report presented by the team behind the “Education at Gunpoint (Kherson and Sumy regions)” project, organized by the Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv. The report details the devastation inflicted on educational institutions during the invasion and examines its broader impact on the regional education system.

During a presentation at Media Center Ukraine, researchers highlighted the significant challenges facing the sector.

“In the Kherson region, the number of staff in the education system has almost halved since russia’s invasion. Literally by half,” said Vladyslava Znoviak, an analyst at the Ilko Kucheriv “Democratic Initiatives” Foundation. “However, it’s important to understand that this decline corresponds with a decrease in the number of children in the region, which has reduced overall demand.”

Znoviak emphasized that the loss of personnel has far-reaching consequences for the region’s ability to rebuild its education system.

“This staffing crisis also affects the long-term development and recovery of the education system,” she explained. “What we observed in Kherson is an aging workforce. There’s not only a general shortage of staff but also a lack of opportunities to attract younger professionals to the field. Many positions have been filled by individuals who were previously inactive—often older educators, including those at retirement age. This trend contributes to the aging of the workforce.”

The report underscores the urgent need for targeted efforts to stabilize and rejuvenate the education sector in regions hit hardest by the invasion.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news