KHARKIV, Ukraine. In a small, unassuming white concrete box on the pavement lies the entrance to Ukraine’s first underground school, a purpose-built bunker designed to protect children from Russian drone and missile attacks.
On Monday, children descended into this new subterranean sanctuary for their first day of school. Greeted by two smiling teachers at the steel door, students and their parents made their way down a concrete staircase, through a blast door, and into the secure bunker six meters (20 feet) below ground.
Hundreds of children began lessons this week in Kharkiv’s primary school 155. Despite the lack of windows, the brightly lit classrooms and lime green and white painted hallways create a cheerful environment. This innovative school, designed with safety as a priority, aims to ensure that education continues uninterrupted amidst the ongoing conflict.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city located near the Russian border, has been under constant attack since the early days of Moscow’s invasion. The renewed intensity of fighting and frequent airstrikes have made traditional schooling untenable, pushing most children to learn at home via computers. However, for some, the chance to attend classes in person is a welcome change.
“My daughter, a third grader, could hardly wait to come, dress up for the occasion, meet her friends that she missed very much,” said Marina Prikhodko, mother of 9-year-old Masha and 6-year-old Oleksii. “For my son, a first grader, it’s like a festive day, a chance to meet his classmates in real life, not online.”
Despite the ongoing conflict, Prikhodko remains resolute. “Yes, it is scary,” she said. “But whatever happens, life goes on and we have to try and live here and now, every day.”
The school, which currently enrolls 300 pupils, is expected to expand to accommodate two daily shifts of 450 students each. “We need to make sure that both teachers and students get accustomed to the school, and hopefully from Sept. 1 there will be a full complement of students,” said Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
At the school’s opening, many students wore traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts, known as “vyshyvanky,” to celebrate. Children of all ages mingled in the hallways and sat behind desks in spacious, windowless classrooms. Lunch consisted of burgers and juice boxes, adding a touch of normalcy to their extraordinary schooling experience.
“It’s like day and night,” said headmaster Ihor Voznyi, contrasting the new school with the conditions pupils faced previously. “Our schools do not have bomb shelters. There are basements, underground spaces which are totally unsuited to conduct any teaching. The spaces here are designed to provide quality, modern spaces.”
This innovative educational initiative represents a beacon of hope and resilience for Kharkiv’s children, ensuring their right to education remains intact even in the face of war.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
