Ukraine evacuates universities from occupied territories
Ukrainian authorities should relocate schools and scientific staff from the territories controlled by pro-Kremlin separatists and provide all necessary conditions to ensure a normal education for students, analysts said.
Thousands of professors and students are moving from eastern Ukraine to different regions across the country to continue the education process they said became “impossible” under the separatist regime.
“We were gathered for a meeting with the new leadership of the university, supported by terrorists. And they forced professors to call Ukrainians fascists in our lectures. I can’t say it, because I’m Ukrainian. But if you don’t do what they say, it’s sabotage, in their opinion. And they can shoot,” a professor from Donetsk, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, told SETimes.
“First of all, being in Donetsk means destroying my career; secondly, I don’t want to stay with these uneducated people who understand just the language of force. It’s not mine. I don’t understand what they are building. I thought, let them build it and thrive, anyway soon everything will be over for them,” he added.
Experts said it is impossible to teach or study “under the gun” and it is important to evacuate the scientific staff from the areas controlled by separatists.
“Education is a strategic sector in any society,” Serhiy Taran, director of the Kyiv-based International Institute for Democracy, told SETimes. “For us, it should be a priority. The authorities must do everything to save our scientific potential. In the east it is really big. There are many unique professors.”
According to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, 11 universities have moved from the occupied territories to other regions of the country. Some universities have moved to neighbouring towns controlled by the Ukrainian authorities, officials said.
For example, the Luhansk National Agrarian University now operates in Kharkiv. Others reopened in other parts of the country. It depends on where the government can provide a new location for universities, according to the ministry.
The Donetsk National University, one of the biggest in Ukraine with 1,000 professors and 14,000 students, resumed operations on November 3rd in Vinnytsia. The school is now located in one of the buildings of Crystal, a state jewellery factory.
“The university was able to start the school year thanks to Donetsk National University academic community and students’ great desire, and also the whole Vinnytsia community’s support and understanding of the situation,” Serhiy Kvit, minister of education and science, said during the university’s reopening ceremony in Vinnytsia. “The country continues the war that Russian invaders unleashed, but together we will overcome all troubles.”
About 70 percent of professors have moved to Vinnytsia from Donetsk. But those who stayed in the city created a clone of the school that supports the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), according to professors who moved to Vinnytsia.
Ihor Todorov, a professor at Uzhhorod National University who left the Donetsk National University, said choosing to stay in the breakaway area only helps separatists.
“Now the remaining part already doesn’t relate to Ukrainian education system. It doesn’t relate to any education system at all. The material base remains there, but the main things in universities are not walls, tables or chairs. The main resource is brain power. And, I want to say that the university staff in Donetsk has significantly changed,” he told SETimes.
“I think that activities of people who stayed there and continue work under the control of Donetsk or Luhansk People’s Republics can be considered assisting terrorists according to Ukrainian legislation,” he added.
Professors said most students also decided to follow their universities to other regions. Students understand that the diploma they can get in DPR will not be a real document recognised by Ukrainian legislation and around the world, teachers said.
This is especially important for students who will graduate next year.
Teachers and students agree that Ukrainian authorities are doing everything they can to maintain the education process, but they hope that situation in their home towns and cities will normalise soon and they will be able to return.
How important is it to relocate schools from separatist-controlled territories in order to receive high quality education? Tell us what you think in the comments section.