Winter holidays: how schoolchildren will rest this year

Ukraine plans to adjust the winter holidays and the academic year structure due to possible power outages.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has sent an official letter to all educational institutions containing recommendations for preparing for possible power outages. Institutions must adapt their class schedules to ensure the educational process continues even under challenging conditions.

The agency notes that planning flexibility will be critical, as long-term power outages can make traditional forms of education unrealistic.

Possible postponement of education to June

One of the Ministry’s proposals is to postpone part of the school days from the winter period to June 2026. Officials note that the risk of blackouts is most significant in the fall and winter, so it is better to compensate for the load in more stable months. At the same time, the Ministry emphasizes that this recommendation does not apply to graduating classes, to avoid affecting preparation for external independent assessment and state final certification.

Alternative learning formats

Since each school can independently determine the structure of the academic year, the Ministry has provided several adaptation options. In particular, institutions can extend winter holidays and shorten spring ones, or switch to a six-day working week. It is also proposed to move classes to two shifts to utilize daylight better. The possibility of organizing asynchronous learning, where students can complete tasks independently without an Internet connection or an electricity supply, is currently under consideration.

Schools can combine different approaches depending on the state of the regional power grid and the technical conditions of a particular institution. The main goal is to ensure the continuity of the educational process despite any difficulties.

When will children return to school?

Each educational institution will determine the exact dates for the resumption of education independently. Some schools may extend their winter break, others will move some of their curriculum to June, or introduce blended learning. Final schedules will be approved by the teaching councils and agreed with parents.