Starychi village, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine, 10 June 2025 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with funding from the Government of Germany, has reopened Starytskyi Lyceum in Lviv Oblast after comprehensive reconstruction work. Thanks to the “Repair of Schools in War-Affected Areas” project, 358 students and 90 staff members — including teachers and support personnel — can return to in-person learning in a secure and upgraded environment.

In 2022, the full-scale war reached Starychi, and a missile strike caused serious damage to the school building. Initial repairs were made with municipal resources and community efforts, but hidden structural damage continued to surface – widening cracks in walls, deformed door frames, and damaged flooring increasingly threatened the building’s safety.

The school has now been fully refurbished in line with the “Build Back Better” approach – with not only the war damage repaired but the facilities restored to a state far better than their pre-war condition. Critical upgrades included improving drainage systems, and renovating the science lab, craft workshop, art room, and gym spaces. One of the most significant interventions was the complete modernization of the school’s air raid shelter, which is now fully equipped with new flooring, lighting, ventilation, and sanitary facilities, ensuring that students can remain protected during air raid alerts while continuing their studies.

Martin Jäger, German Ambassador to Ukraine, stressed that by rebuilding Ukraine’s schools, the German Government is supporting the country's long-term recovery and prosperity: “A functioning education system is one of the most powerful engines of economic resilience,” Jäger said. “Even in wartime, children deserve to study safely, in person, and in conditions that allow them to grow, dream, and build the future of their country.”

Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, emphasized the broader significance of such efforts. "Schools do much more than provide knowledge – they hold communities together, foster stability, and give families hope,” Cilliers said. “Every renovated classroom and every modernized shelter is a direct investment in Ukraine’s human capital and economic wellbeing, ensuring that learning continues no matter what the circumstances are."

Background:

According to the latest Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4), over 3,400 educational institutions have sustained damage, limiting safe access to learning for millions of children.

UNDP in Ukraine, together with its development partners, is systematically working to restore war-affected educational infrastructure. With financial support from the Government of Germany, 12 schools and kindergartens are being renovated across Kirovohrad, Lviv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, and Cherkasy oblasts as part of the “Repair of Schools in War-Affected Areas” project. The project also provides modern school furniture and equipment, ensuring that Ukraine’s children can continue learning in proper conditions – even during war.

Earlier this year, UNDP completed the “EU4UASchools: Build Back Better” initiative, which restored 66 schools in 11 oblasts of Ukraine.      

Media enquiries: 

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org