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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The “yellow” level of air threat does not allow schools to continue regular classroom lessons. Students and teachers must move to shelters, and if shelter capacity is insufficient the institution may switch to blended or staggered learning. At the same time, teachers cannot be forced to come to school.
This was reported by Dilo with reference to a statement by Education Ombudsperson Nadiya Leshchyk.
About the "yellow" threat level in schools
Some educators had questions about the practical implementation of the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution of 4 September 2026, year No.1092 "Some issues of optimizing civilian protection and response to air attack threats." 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 missile-drone threat, as well as a massive drone attack. The "yellow" level corresponds to a drone threat.
At the same time, subparagraph 3 of paragraph 1 of the resolution states that in the event the "yellow" level is set, the educational process in educational institutions is suspended, except for institutions that have equipped 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 way in classrooms.
If such a level is set, the educational process is interrupted, and all participants in the educational process must move to shelters. If conditions permit, lessons may resume already in the shelter.
Thus, the course of action for educational institutions effectively remains the same during both the "yellow" and the "red" threat levels.
At the same time, educational institutions are already facing demands from parents who are concerned about the regular interruption of learning due to air threats.
If the shelter does not hold all students
A separate issue arises in schools where the shelter is designed for only part of the children and staff.
In that case, the educational process must be organized so that the number of people in the building at the same time matches the shelter’s capacity.
In particular, the school may switch to a blended learning format. Some students would attend in-person on certain days while others learn remotely, then they can swap. Another option is organizing lessons in two or more shifts.
The school can also designate certain categories of students for in-person learning, for example primary school children and 5-th grades, while the rest of the pupils study remotely.
The specific format depends on the institution’s capabilities. It should be determined by the director together with the teaching staff.
Must teachers come to school during the "yellow" level?
A separate question concerns education staff and their presence at the workplace during the "yellow" level.
According to the education ombudsperson’s position, forcing staff to leave a safe place and go to the educational institution is not allowed. Such requirements can create a threat to their life and health, especially given that the "yellow" level can escalate to "red."
At the same time, complaints have been received about cases when, during an air raid alert, education department officials checked whether teachers were present at their workplaces.
Regarding students, parents are advised to take the security situation into account and ascertain whether the teacher arrived at the school and whether the school will be able to take the child in the shelter. Given the changing situation, such questions effectively have to be resolved daily.
Safe route to school
Another problem remains the trip to the educational institution. In regions where air raid alerts sound regularly, students and staff may be directly at risk while traveling or walking to school. This especially concerns transporting children by school buses.
As an example, one can use the experience of cities near combat zones. In particular, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia are installing mobile shelters at public transport stops and in places of mass congregation.
Against a backdrop of rising security risks, other communities are also being urged to work out the creation of safe routes to schools and the installation of mobile shelters.
Ukraine plans to install 840 mobile shelters
The Office of the President of Ukraine initiated the "Safe School Route" project. Within it, 840 mobile shelters are planned to be installed 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 were used for purposes other than intended — for example, as public toilets, which led to the structures having to be closed.
At the same time, such objects, in the education ombudsperson’s view, should not be transferred to the balance sheet of educational institutions. Responsibility for them should remain at the territorial community level.
It is currently expected that the Ministry of Education and Science will provide additional clarifications on organizing the educational process and the operation of educational institutions during the "yellow" level of air threat.
Recall that in Kharkiv they opened the tenth underground school adapted for in-person teaching of children under the constant threat of Russian shelling.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Школи під час "жовтої" тривоги: що змінюється для учнів, батьків і вчителів". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Delo.ua.
