Europes new school year begins amid teacher shortages, cyberattacks and war safety measures
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Russian airstrikes kill at least four in Kyiv region as Ukraine school year begins
ContinuationEuropes new school year begins amid teacher shortages, cyberattacks and war safety measures
Millions of students across Europe returned to classrooms on Tuesday as the new school year began, with officials in multiple countries addressing staffing shortages, safety concerns, and logistical challenges.
In Slovenia, 186,687 primary school students started the academic year, including 19,058 first-graders, a slight decrease from last year’s 19,897, according to the Ministry of Education. Approximately 88,000 secondary school students enrolled, about 1,000 more than the previous year. Mojca Mihelič, former president of the Association of School Principals, warned of severe teacher shortages, calling the situation “frightening.” She noted that schools were struggling to fill positions, with some administrators forced to teach subjects outside their expertise. One principal, she said, would teach mathematics despite lacking a background in the subject after multiple failed hiring attempts for the role. Mihelič also criticized the effectiveness of government stipends for teacher training programs, stating that while enrollment in deficit fields like mathematics had increased, retention remained low. “If 20 students enroll, five graduate, and four of those leave the profession, only one stays,” she said .
In Ukraine, Iryna Borzova, a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Youth and Sports, announced that 3 million children would attend schools this year, with about 240,000 starting first grade—a 10% drop from 2025. Only schools with bomb shelters are permitted to hold in-person classes, with 11,375 institutions meeting the requirement. Borzova estimated that 2.2 million students would attend in person, 700,000–800,000 would use a blended format, and 200,000 in frontline areas would study entirely online. An additional 400,000 Ukrainian children abroad will also learn remotely. The government allocated UAH 5 billion for shelter construction and renovation in 2026, with 113 new or upgraded facilities completed and 20 more underway. Over 840 mobile shelters have been installed in 49 frontline communities, and underground schools operate in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia .
France’s 11.6 million students faced disruptions from a cyberattack targeting the national education system, affecting academies in Toulouse and Nantes. The country also enforced a ban on mobile phones in high schools .
In Estonia, Tallinn’s municipal schools expected roughly 45,700 students, while parents like Rauno and Merilin Mõttus described the logistical strain of adjusting to new schedules with multiple children .
Russia’s school year began with President Vladimir Putin emphasizing the role of teachers in both education and “patriotic work.” The country faces a teacher shortage, with only 1.05 million of 1.64 million positions filled as of March 2025. The Education Ministry has proposed employing former combat veterans, though only 70 were working as teachers as of March, while thousands participate in “Lessons of Courage” programs .
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs addressed students, teachers, and parents, acknowledging the mixed emotions of the first day and urging children to seek help when needed. “School is a place for learning—for pupils, teachers, and parents alike,” he said .
In Slovakia, Education Minister Tomáš Drucker officially opened the school year in Kráľová pri Senci, while ceremonies took place across the country, including in Košice, Trnava, and Bratislava .
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