First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, together with Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi and Minister of Education and Science Andrii Butenko, took part in the annual national education conference “ Serpneva-2026,” organized by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine under the slogan “Education Is Everyone’s Responsibility.”
“I thank educators for another year of this special work. Every day, you give children back what the war unleashed by Russia is trying to take away from them: normalcy, childhood, development, and the chance to learn. In doing so, you are supporting the future itself and faith in it,” the President’s wife said.
Olena Zelenska noted that over the years of fighting Russian aggression, education has become synonymous with care and safety. According to her, the School Nutrition Reform continues to this end: starting September 1, all schoolchildren – more than 3 million children – will receive free hot lunches.
The All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program is also being implemented: the Government has approved the Concept for the Development of Psychological Services through 2030.
“Its task is to make psychological support part of school life, so that at school, it is possible to notice in time when a child is struggling and know how to support them,” the First Lady added.
The state Barrier-Free Strategy is also being implemented: this year is dedicated specifically to barrier-free education and awareness. The network of the Schools of Superheroes is expanding, with 22 such schools now operating in 19 cities. By the end of this year, eight more centers will open with the support of the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
Conference participants outlined priorities for the new school year and presented tools that teachers will be able to use in their daily work. The program was structured around a child’s educational journey, from preschool through career choice.
They also discussed the development of preschool education, eight years of experience with the New Ukrainian School, the introduction of upper secondary specialized education, and the transformation of vocational and professional pre-higher education. Four practical zones operated alongside the main program: “Preschool,” “Basic School,” “Upper Secondary Specialized School,” and “Vocational and Professional Pre-Higher Education.” In each, participants explored materials, tools, and solutions that can be put to use as early as the new school year.
“We in Ukraine face a difficult challenge – to prepare our children for the future so that they do not remain ‘children of war’ forever. So that their lives are shaped not by traumatic experiences, but by faith in their own strength and in our love and support. This truly is everyone’s responsibility – for education and for the whole country,” Olena Zelenska concluded.