New data insights reveal both progress and challenges for Ukrainian refugee students’ education in Europe
New data insights reveal both progress and challenges for Ukrainian refugee students’ education in Europe
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in collaboration with members of the Regional Technical Hub on Refugee Education (including UNHCR, UNESCO, UNICEF, the EU, OECD, and Council of Europe), has launched a data dashboard that consolidates key data, policy and support measures, and evidence on education for Ukrainian refugees in European host countries. It aims to support education planning and programming, improve data harmonization, and strengthen advocacy for improved education access and better learning outcomes for Ukrainian refugees.
The dashboard features:
A regional overview of data from European countries with available data on Ukrainian refugee education.
Profiles of seven countries with Refugee Response Plans and comparable data: Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
A repository of data, information, and evidence from European host countries.
A new report from the Regional Technical Hub on Refugee Education draws on the latest data consolidated and additional analyses by UNESCO and multiple other sources (including the European Union, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, UNICEF, and ministries of education) to assess progress in educational access and learning outcomes. All these data have also been integrated into the dashboard.
Enrollment has improved in host countries, but dual learning presents a challenge
Over three years into the war, the enrollment of Ukrainian students in formal education in European host countries has increased, reaching an average of 78% in the 10 countries included in the 2024 SEIS (Social Economic Insights Survey) conducted by UNHCR. Of those enrolled, 50% attend host country schools exclusively, 29% follow both host country schooling and Ukrainian online education, 16% rely solely on Ukrainian online education, and 6% are not engaged in any learning.
Many Ukrainian students following both host country and Ukrainian curricula face a demanding workload. Over 25% spend more than three additional hours daily on online lessons to meet both educational requirements.
Some disparities in accessing education remain
Despite increased enrollment, equitable access remains a challenge, with disparities across certain groups:
Children and youth with beginner-level host-country language skills are 50 percentage points less likely to enroll than those with intermediate or advanced proficiency.
Students with disabilities are 19 percent less likely to enroll than their peers.
Children who arrived within the past year have enrollment rates 30 percentage points lower than those in host countries for two or more years.
Valeria, 37, from Dnipro, Ukraine, teaches Ukrainian refugee children at the Integriko centre in Varna, Bulgaria. The training hub employs teachers and volunteers to help Ukrainian refugees integrate quickly into their host country.
Looking ahead for Ukrainian refugee education in Europe
Despite improvements in educational access for refugee children and youth from Ukraine in European host countries, many remain unenrolled or reliant on remote learning. This poses long-term risks, including lower completion rates, limited social inclusion and employment opportunities, and negative impacts on academic performance, psychosocial wellbeing, and mental health.
Notwithstanding the challenges, there are promising practices. Some host countries are removing administrative barriers and expanding school capacities and support for refugee students. These efforts should be scaled up to ensure equitable and quality access to education in all host countries. This can be achieved through initiatives such as language support, fostering safe and inclusive school environments, expanding services for children with disabilities, and improving data collection and analysis.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science is also increasing options for students to remain connected with the Ukrainian education system, while reducing workloads and facilitating potential reintegration when possible.
As host countries work to enhance quality, inclusive education for Ukrainian refugee students, ongoing data collection and analysis - beyond enrollment - will be essential.
For more information on the dashboard, visit the UNESCO page.
