WASHINGTON, August 30, 2024—A new $415 million education program to improve primary and secondary education in Ukraine will reach one million students, teachers, and school staff, the World Bank announced today.
The Lifting Education Access and Resilience in Times of Need (LEARN) program aims to enhance safety conditions in schools, provide free transportation for vulnerable students, train teachers, purchase textbooks, and strengthen education sector management. The LEARN program will build Ukraine’s human capital by improving safety and inclusive access to schools while adopting comprehensive education reforms in grades 1-12 known as the New Ukrainian School (NUS), aligned with EU standards.
“It is critical to mitigate the impact of the war on children, especially the most vulnerable by minimizing disruptions to their learning,” said Bob Saum, World Bank Country Director for Eastern Europe. “This project will support Ukraine’s education system as part of its recovery. We applaud the government’s resolve to continue with the New Ukrainian School reform and think ahead to the future despite the last three years of war.”
The initial financing for the LEARN program includes $235 million from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) Advancing Needed Credit Enhancement for Ukraine (ADVANCE Ukraine), $150 million from the International Development Association (IDA) Special Program for Ukraine and Moldova Recovery, and $30 million from the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF). The program employs results-based financing that can be scaled up as additional funds become available.
The program is part of an international support package for Ukraine to meet its financing needs through 2024. Other ongoing projects include emergency operations for health, transport, energy, housing, and agriculture that have mobilized partner resources through a flexible design allowing quick disbursement of funds which can be scaled as necessary when additional financing becomes available.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, World Bank Group-mobilized support has enabled the Government of Ukraine to promote reforms and provide essential services reaching more than 15 million Ukrainians. The World Bank Group has facilitated over $47 billion in financing to support Ukraine including commitments and pledges from donors such as: the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany Canada Republic of Korea Switzerland Sweden Denmark Austria Finland Iceland Ireland Indonesia Lithuania Latvia New Zealand Belgium