Schools During 'Yellow' Alert: Changes for Students, Parents, and Teachers

The "yellow" level of air threat does not allow schools to continue regular classes in classrooms. Students and teachers must go to shelters, and if the capacity is insufficient, the institution may switch to mixed or shift learning. At the same time, teachers cannot be forced to travel to school.

This was reported by Dilo, citing the educational ombudsman, Nadezhda Leschik.

At the 'Yellow' Threat Level in Schools

Some educators have raised questions about the practical implementation of the Cabinet of Ministers' resolution dated September 4, 2026, No. 1092, "Some Issues of Optimizing Population Protection and Responding to Threats from Air Attacks." The document provides for two levels of air threat: "red" and "yellow," she emphasized.

The "red" level is declared in the event of a missile or drone threat, as well as a mass drone attack. The "yellow" level corresponds to a drone threat.

At the same time, subsection 3 of paragraph 1 of the resolution states that in the event of a "yellow" level being established, the educational process in educational institutions is suspended, except for institutions that have civil protection shelters.

What Schools Should Do During the 'Yellow' Level

The introduction of the "yellow" level does not mean that students can continue learning in the usual mode in classrooms.

When this level is established, the educational process is interrupted, and all participants in the educational process must go to shelters. If conditions allow, classes may resume in the shelter.

Thus, the procedure for educational institutions effectively remains the same during both the "yellow" and "red" threat levels.

At the same time, educational institutions are already facing demands from parents who are concerned about the regular interruptions in learning due to air threats.

If the Shelter Does Not Accommodate All Students

A separate issue arises in schools where the shelter is designed only for a portion of the children and staff.

In this case, the educational process must be organized in such a way that the number of people simultaneously in the building corresponds to the capacity of the shelter.

In particular, the school may switch to a mixed learning format. Some students will attend in-person classes on certain days, while others will study remotely, after which they can alternate. Another option is to organize classes in two or more shifts.

The school may also designate specific categories of students for in-person learning, such as children in primary and 5th grades, while other students will study remotely.

The specific format depends on the capabilities of the institution. It should be determined by the principal in conjunction with the teaching staff.

Should Teachers Go to School During the 'Yellow' Level?

A separate question arises regarding the staff of educational institutions and their presence at the workplace during the "yellow" level.

According to the educational ombudsman, workers should not be forced to leave a safe place and head to the educational institution. Such demands may pose a threat to their lives and health, especially given that the "yellow" level may transition to "red."

At the same time, there are complaints about cases where, during air alerts, education department officials checked the presence of teachers at their workplaces.

Regarding students, parents are advised to consider the safety situation and find out whether the teacher has arrived at the educational institution and whether the school can accommodate the child in the shelter. Such questions, given the changing situation, have to be resolved almost daily.

Safe Route to School

Another problem remains the journey to the educational institution. In regions where air alerts are sounded regularly, students and staff may be at risk during their trip or walk to school. This is especially true for transporting children by school buses.

For example, the experience of cities close to combat zones can be used. In particular, mobile shelters are being installed at public transport stops and places where people gather in Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia.

Against the backdrop of increasing security risks, other communities are also being encouraged to develop safe routes to schools and install mobile shelters.

Ukraine Plans to Install 840 Mobile Shelters

The Office of the President of Ukraine has initiated the "Safe Route for Schoolchildren" project. As part of this, it is planned to install 840 mobile shelters on roads to schools in frontline regions.

At the same time, implementing such a solution has a number of practical problems. In particular, mobile shelters are quite expensive, and in some cities, they have been misused - specifically, as public restrooms, which led to the need to close the structures.

Moreover, such facilities, according to the educational ombudsman, should not be transferred to the balance of educational institutions. Responsibility for them should remain at the level of the territorial community.

It is expected that the Ministry of Education and Science will provide additional clarifications regarding the organization of the educational process and the operation of educational institutions during the "yellow" level of air threat.

It should be noted that the tenth underground school adapted for in-person learning for children in conditions of constant threat from Russian shelling has opened in Kharkiv.

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