Dear colleagues! Fellow Ukrainians!

We are starting a regular meeting of the Government.

Today, Ukraine is fighting for its freedom and for a better future for our children.

Therefore, the protection of children and childhood is a key area of work for us.

First and foremost, we are talking about safe, high-quality education. We are doing everything possible for this.

We are systematically implementing a comprehensive School Offline policy to maximise the involvement of children in full-time education.

UAH 7.5 billion has been allocated to build shelters in the frontline and border areas. This will allow 100,000 students to return to classrooms.

UAH 1.2 billion has been allocated for the purchase of school buses. Out of more than 500 planned, more than 400 have already been purchased.

More than 240,000 devices have been provided to schools for children and teachers.

UAH 2 billion has been allocated for meals for primary school children, and UAH 1.5 billion for the modernisation of school canteens.

Officers of the Educational Security Service protect schoolchildren directly in educational institutions.

Starting from the new year, the Government has provided for a monthly allowance of UAH 1,000 for teachers, which will increase to UAH 2,000 from 1 September.

This is just part of our efforts to create an effective and child-friendly educational environment. Despite the difficult wartime circumstances, we continue to make these changes. It is a contribution to the future of the state, the nation and every Ukrainian.

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Another comprehensive reform is the reform of Medical and Social Expert Commissions.

The old bureaucratic system of medical and social examination will be eliminated. It will be replaced by a new efficient mechanism focused on people and their needs.

We have already made the first step.

We have already made the first step.

The Government has submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law establishing an algorithm for assessing a person’s daily functioning.

Practicing doctors in multidisciplinary hospitals, as part of expert teams, will objectively assess the patient’s condition in one of three categories:

• persistent total disability;
• persistent partial disability;
• able-bodied person.

Options for remote, in absentia and on-site assessment will be available. The system will be digitised and focused on the outcome – maximum rehabilitation of the individual, return to active life and adaptation of the workplace to their needs.

We aim to achieve European standards for effective rehabilitation, with about half of people returning to an active lifestyle after illness or injury.

Today we approve the social component of this reform.

Two draft laws regulating social services and insurance payments.

Payments will be based on an assessment of a person’s ability to work. The amount of payments for people with a full permanent disability will increase significantly compared to the current level.

And for people with persistent partial disability, the state will compensate the difference between the salary a person had before the insured event and after returning to work.

The proposed amendments also increase the duration of paid treatment and rehabilitation from 4 months to 1.5 years and protect people from dismissal for the entire period of treatment.

This will make the system fairer.

At the same time, the disability status is maintained. It provides for the right to social services, rehabilitation, benefits and support in employment. For those who already have a disability, the situation will not change.

Thus, it is not a question of changing any institution, but of creating a new philosophy of social support. Its essence comes down to three key goals:

• to restore a person’s health;
• to give a person a job and the opportunity to support themselves and their family;
• to provide people with the social assistance they really need.

In addition to the human dimension, this will also have a socio-economic effect: greater economic activity, a balanced labour market, and social stability.

I am grateful to everyone who teaches, treats, builds, restores, protects people, provides light and heat.

Thank you for your attention!

Glory to Ukraine!