Government enlarges School Starter Kit program: funds can now be spent on books

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has endorsed changes initiated by the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity expanding the School Starter Kit program. Starting from October 1, 2025, parents or other legal representatives of first-graders will be eligible to use the one-time financial assistance to purchase books as well.

"This decision is a response to public demand and our step towards supporting families. We want families to have the opportunity to buy what is truly necessary for their child's education," said Denys Ulyutin, Minister of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine.

Under the updated School Starter Kit program, retail outlets across Ukraine with POS terminals bearing the following MCC codes can participate:

- 5641 — children's clothing;

- 5651 — family clothing;

- 5661 — shoe stores;

- 5943 — stationery products;

- 5942 — bookstores;

- 5192 — books, periodicals, and newspapers.

The updated resolution stipulates that, starting January 1, 2026, a list of stores where goods for first-graders can be purchased using the School Starter Pack program funds will be introduced.

This year, the program runs until November 15, with applications for assistance accepted online via the Diia app or in writing at the nearest Pension Fund of Ukraine service center.

Funds can be used within 180 days of being credited, in both physical and online stores, but only through cashless payments. An online dashboard will list stores where program payments are guaranteed.

As a reminder, Ukrainians using the School Starter Kit assistance most commonly purchase clothing.

Background Information

The project was initiated by the President of Ukraine and developed by the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Diia, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Pension Fund of Ukraine, and the State Service of Ukraine for Children’s Affairs. It is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine under the "Diia Support Project," funded by Sweden, and the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE project — "Decentralization for Improved Democratic Education," implemented by a consortium of the DOCCU NGO and the Zurich University of Teacher Education, with support from Switzerland.