World Bank Launches $415M Education Program to Support Students in Ukraine

Bob Saum, World Bank Country Director for Eastern Europe, emphasized the importance of minimizing disruptions to education caused by the ongoing conflict.

The World Bank has announced the launch of a $415 million education initiative aimed at enhancing primary and secondary education in Ukraine, benefiting one million students, teachers, and school staff. The Lifting Education Access and Resilience in Times of Need (LEARN) program is designed to improve safety in schools, provide free transportation for vulnerable students, train teachers, supply textbooks, and strengthen the overall management of the education sector.

The LEARN program is part of a broader effort to build Ukraine’s human capital by improving school safety and access, while implementing comprehensive education reforms in grades 1-12 under the New Ukrainian School (NUS) initiative, which aligns with European Union standards.

Bob Saum, World Bank Country Director for Eastern Europe, emphasized the importance of minimizing disruptions to education caused by the ongoing conflict. "It is critical to mitigate the impact of the war on children, especially the most vulnerable, by minimizing disruptions to their learning," Saum stated. "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 to 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) through the Advancing Needed Credit Enhancement for Ukraine (ADVANCE Ukraine) initiative, $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’s results-based financing model allows for scalability as additional funds become available.

The LEARN program is part of an international support package to meet Ukraine's financing needs through 2024. Other ongoing projects in Ukraine include emergency operations in health, transport, energy, housing, and agriculture, with resources mobilized by the World Bank and its partners to provide swift disbursement of funds.

Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the World Bank Group has mobilized over $47 billion in financing to support Ukraine’s government, promoting reforms and essential services that have reached more than 15 million Ukrainians. This support has been backed by commitments and pledges from countries including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Canada, South Korea, and many others.