Dear colleagues, fellow Ukrainians.

Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian schoolchildren and students started the school year.

This was preceded by a great deal of work done by the Government on the instructions of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Our main goal is to provide Ukrainians with guaranteed educational opportunities.

We have focused on five strategic areas, each of which brings us closer to this goal.

The first area is safety and accessibility.

As part of the comprehensive School Offline policy, we are returning children to full-time education.

We are building and modernising school shelters. We have created risk assessment criteria for each school.

In total, this year the Government has allocated a record UAH 7.5 billion for the modernisation, arrangement and construction of shelters.

We want children to return to school wherever possible. This is a strategic priority.

Officers of the Educational Security Service started working yesterday. They will respond to all security challenges in schools. This will enhance the protection of children. We plan to cover 2,000 schools with this project by the end of the year.

This year, we are also continuing the programme of purchasing school buses. We want children to be able to get to school easily and safely. First of all, we are addressing the needs of the frontline and border areas.

The second area is the latest technologies.

Yesterday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a new digital tool for children, teachers and parents – the Mriia app and web portal.

For children, this means access to new information, their own ID card, and better planning of their day.

For parents, it means better communication with teachers and control over their children’s progress.

And for teachers, it means getting rid of unnecessary bureaucracy and concentrating on the main thing, teaching and educating students.

40 schools from different regions of Ukraine have already joined Mriia. The tool is currently available to 100,000 users.

The third area is the New Ukrainian School.

Even in the midst of a full-scale war, we are continuing this reform. Last year, we allocated almost UAH 1.5 billion for the needs of the New Ukrainian School. This year, we have allocated the same amount.

Along with reforming the basic school, we are expanding opportunities for high school students. Starting from 2027, they will be able to choose their study profile and disciplines.

The fourth area of reform is the creation of an effective network of vocational schools.

Our task is to make vocational schools prestigious and vocational education promising.

To do this, we are modernising the material and technical base. Almost UAH 550 million has been allocated in the budget.

Together with our partners, this year we will upgrade 100 vocational school workshops, which will open up new opportunities for education.

The fifth area of educational change is the transformation of higher education.

The Government has launched a pilot project to provide students with state grants. These grants partially or fully cover the cost of studying on a contract basis in any bachelor’s programme.

As of now, more than 170 public and private universities have joined this project.

Another element of the higher education reform is individual educational trajectories for students. More freedom, more choice, more academic mobility.

At the same time, we are intensifying research at universities. Higher education should not only teach, but also move science forward.

***

Child health and inclusiveness are also central elements of the education reform.

Equal access to education for all. Friendly educational environment. We pay special attention to this.

Thanks to the initiatives of First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, we are reforming the school catering sector.

We are making our educational institutions inclusive and barrier-free.

I am grateful to all teachers and all employees of the educational sector who are working today to ensure that Ukrainian children can study in Ukraine.

***

Today’s agenda includes a number of important decisions in various areas to strengthen our country.

First. We are systematically continuing the deregulation reform.

Yesterday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law drafted by the Government that establishes a declarative principle for starting a new business.

This means that Ukrainians can start their own business that requires permits or licences simply by declaring the relevant activity.

Today, we are adjusting the Action Plan for Deregulation and Business Climate Improvement. It will now include 103 tasks and 143 step-by-step measures aimed at supporting business.

***

Second. We are taking an important step towards streamlining housing and utility services. We are launching a pilot project of the Unified Housing and Utilities Platform.

This system will automate processes, provide accessible and convenient services, improve customer accounting, and allow for better control over the quality of services.

Users will have an electronic account and will be able to receive all information about housing managers, service providers, prices and tariffs, the results of their appeals, and will be able to conclude or terminate a contract online.

The platform will be integrated with other information systems to ensure data exchange.

We expect as many communities as possible to join the project.

***

Third. We are accelerating humanitarian demining.

To this end, we are giving state-owned enterprises the right to collect funds from charitable donations from the NBU account for demining.

Ukroboronprom, in particular, has the technical capabilities for mine clearance. Its involvement in the process will help to clear Ukraine of russian mine debris faster.

***

I thank everyone who protects, teaches, treats, and ensures the operation of critical infrastructure and the defence industry. To all those who rescue. To everyone who makes Ukraine stronger.

Together we will definitely win!

Thank you for your attention.

Glory to Ukraine!