More than 8,000 children remain in remote learning: how Mykolaiv schools are operating

In the schools of Mykolaiv the organization of learning was adjusted after the first adaptation week. Most institutions operate in-person, however the city cannot yet completely abandon remote learning and two-shift schooling. At the same time the number of pupils has decreased by almost 2.5 thousand. This was reported on September 7, 2026 by the Mykolaiv City Council following a staff meeting. The situation was described by the head of the education department Hanna Lychko.

The first week of September was an adaptation week for educational institutions. School leadership together with the relevant department and district administrations analyzed how to distribute children, use available shelters more effectively and adjust timetables. After that 45 schools continued to operate in-person, seven — in a mixed format, and 12 — fully remotely. This distribution of institutions is also enshrined in the executive committee’s decision on the organization of the 2026/2027 school year. It is not yet possible to move all schools to a single shift. The main limitation is the capacity and specific features of school shelters. According to Hanna Lychko, the city will strive to expand opportunities for in-person learning as much as possible.

Overall, this school year 32,555 children are studying in Mykolaiv schools — 2,465 fewer than last year.

By format, students are distributed as follows:

• 19,308 — study in-person;
• 5,187 — in-person with the use of remote learning technologies;
• 8,060 — fully remotely.

For comparison, last year 22,007 children studied in-person, while 10,445 were fully remote. At the same time, the number of students combining in-person study with remote technologies increased by 2,619 children.

Along with the decrease in the number of pupils, the number of classes also fell. Over the year the city has 67 fewer classes, and the average class size has also decreased somewhat.

The format approved at the beginning of September does not necessarily have to remain unchanged for the entire school year. If the security situation changes or the capacities of a particular school change, the pedagogical council can review the organization of learning, and the head of the institution must inform the education department. The city council notes that this year the main priorities of the education system remain child safety, a full educational process and quality meals.

Reminder: earlier we wrote:

• In Mykolaiv 45 schools will operate in-person, and another 12 — remotely
• Minus a quarter of students: in Mykolaiv only 34.6 thousand pupils are now studying, one third remotely
• Almost 6 thousand fewer in a year: how many children will study in the Mykolaiv region
• In Mykolaiv a school has already installed anti-radiation shelter structures
• “Demographic catastrophe”: 243 thousand first-graders — the number of children in schools in Ukraine is steadily decreasing