Ukrainian Teacher Training Program Helps Bridge Learning Gaps During Ongoing Conflict
In the small town of Slavsko, Ukraine, a resilient group of educators is gathering to address one of the most pressing challenges they face today: bridging learning gaps caused by the ongoing conflict. Organised by Teach For Ukraine and supported by Education Cannot Wait (ECW), this training program empowers teachers with essential skills and innovative strategies to help their students cope with the educational setbacks experienced during the war.
Educators like Anna Semylit, a chemistry teacher from Kyiv, are facing immense challenges. 'In my previous work in college, I often witnessed students struggling with learning loss,' Anna states. 'It's a nationwide crisis that burdens us all.' However, these teachers are equipped with a hopeful outlook. With the support from training workshops like those provided by Teach For Ukraine, they are starting to see a pathway towards overcoming these challenges.
The teacher training program, part of a multi-year resilience initiative in collaboration with the Kyiv School of Economics Institute and Finn Church Aid, aims to equip secondary school teachers with strategies specifically tailored to remedy significant learning losses, foster positive classroom relationships, and develop individualized learning plans. The war in Ukraine has displaced millions, damaged educational infrastructures, and left many children without a proper education for extended periods. Anna has felt firsthand the impact on her students and the educational system as a whole. Having participated in training organized by ECW, Anna now teaches chemistry at Blystavystia College in Kyiv, focusing on how to meet the unique challenges presented by the conflict.
The recovery-oriented sessions, focused on tutoring and bridging learning gaps, allow educators to not simply follow a curriculum. They teach educators how to identify and analyze the curriculum components each student has missed, adapting their teaching methodologies to meet the disparate needs of their students. Secretly tackling educational fallout while transforming traditional methodologies have been crucial for teachers like Anna. Furthermore, the importance of psychosocial support is recognized, especially for students grappling with trauma
'By prioritizing the well-being and development of my students, I was encouraged to focus on trauma-sensitive and gender-sensitive approaches in my teaching,' Anna reveals. Navigating how to best support her students requires a careful balance, as she must know when to provide assistance herself and when to refer students to specialists.
Today, Anna feels empowered to help her chemistry students confront the uncertainty of their world. 'This training not only provided me with new knowledge but has also motivated me to implement changes in my practice,' she shares. The ongoing conflict, which escalated with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has had devastating consequences for civilians. Thousands of schools have been either destroyed or damaged, and millions of children have been deprived of education.
Thanks to this training initiative, teachers have the opportunity to learn both educational techniques and how to tend to the emotional needs of their students. Such a holistic approach is vital in a country where countless children have been exposed to traumatic experiences, from bombardments to displacements. ECW's multi-year resilience support program plays an instrumental role in offering the urgently needed assistance to both students and educators, ensuring safe and accessible learning environments, enhancing learning outcomes by training teachers, expanding digital learning initiatives, and providing alternative education options. Mental health and psychosocial support remain essential focal points.
The implementation of these programs is carried out in coordination with the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science alongside numerous local and international partners, including Teach For Ukraine, the Kyiv School of Economics, Finn Church Aid, Save the Children, and UNICEF. Despite the impactful initiatives financed by ECW, the demand for further support remains critical. More than ever, global leaders must advocate for education as a primary focus in crisis situations.
Anna's experience emphasizes the necessity of investing in education during emergencies. Targeted training and resources can transform how educators empower and teach their students despite every obstacle. 'I feel more equipped to assist my students in overcoming the challenges they face today,' she reflects. Together, these educators are not just bridging learning gaps; they're crafting a hopeful future for the children they teach, fostering resilience and recovery through learning.
Educators like Anna Semylit, a chemistry teacher from Kyiv, are facing immense challenges. 'In my previous work in college, I often witnessed students struggling with learning loss,' Anna states. 'It's a nationwide crisis that burdens us all.' However, these teachers are equipped with a hopeful outlook. With the support from training workshops like those provided by Teach For Ukraine, they are starting to see a pathway towards overcoming these challenges.
The teacher training program, part of a multi-year resilience initiative in collaboration with the Kyiv School of Economics Institute and Finn Church Aid, aims to equip secondary school teachers with strategies specifically tailored to remedy significant learning losses, foster positive classroom relationships, and develop individualized learning plans. The war in Ukraine has displaced millions, damaged educational infrastructures, and left many children without a proper education for extended periods. Anna has felt firsthand the impact on her students and the educational system as a whole. Having participated in training organized by ECW, Anna now teaches chemistry at Blystavystia College in Kyiv, focusing on how to meet the unique challenges presented by the conflict.
The recovery-oriented sessions, focused on tutoring and bridging learning gaps, allow educators to not simply follow a curriculum. They teach educators how to identify and analyze the curriculum components each student has missed, adapting their teaching methodologies to meet the disparate needs of their students. Secretly tackling educational fallout while transforming traditional methodologies have been crucial for teachers like Anna. Furthermore, the importance of psychosocial support is recognized, especially for students grappling with trauma
'By prioritizing the well-being and development of my students, I was encouraged to focus on trauma-sensitive and gender-sensitive approaches in my teaching,' Anna reveals. Navigating how to best support her students requires a careful balance, as she must know when to provide assistance herself and when to refer students to specialists.
Today, Anna feels empowered to help her chemistry students confront the uncertainty of their world. 'This training not only provided me with new knowledge but has also motivated me to implement changes in my practice,' she shares. The ongoing conflict, which escalated with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has had devastating consequences for civilians. Thousands of schools have been either destroyed or damaged, and millions of children have been deprived of education.
Thanks to this training initiative, teachers have the opportunity to learn both educational techniques and how to tend to the emotional needs of their students. Such a holistic approach is vital in a country where countless children have been exposed to traumatic experiences, from bombardments to displacements. ECW's multi-year resilience support program plays an instrumental role in offering the urgently needed assistance to both students and educators, ensuring safe and accessible learning environments, enhancing learning outcomes by training teachers, expanding digital learning initiatives, and providing alternative education options. Mental health and psychosocial support remain essential focal points.
The implementation of these programs is carried out in coordination with the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science alongside numerous local and international partners, including Teach For Ukraine, the Kyiv School of Economics, Finn Church Aid, Save the Children, and UNICEF. Despite the impactful initiatives financed by ECW, the demand for further support remains critical. More than ever, global leaders must advocate for education as a primary focus in crisis situations.
Anna's experience emphasizes the necessity of investing in education during emergencies. Targeted training and resources can transform how educators empower and teach their students despite every obstacle. 'I feel more equipped to assist my students in overcoming the challenges they face today,' she reflects. Together, these educators are not just bridging learning gaps; they're crafting a hopeful future for the children they teach, fostering resilience and recovery through learning.
Topics Other）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.