Lithuania Allocates €21 Million to Rebuild Ukrainian Education — Strategic Agreement Signed at URC 2025
During the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, and the First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Yevhen Kudriavets, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reaffirming Lithuania’s steadfast commitment to Ukraine’s long-term recovery and reconstruction efforts.
This agreement marks a major milestone in Lithuania’s strategic support for Ukraine, specifically in rebuilding and modernizing its war-affected education system. Under the MoU, Lithuania will contribute €21 million to initiatives aimed at restoring infrastructure, strengthening learning outcomes, and reimagining education delivery for children and youth across Ukraine.
The investment will focus on creating a safe, inclusive, and forward-looking learning environment, ensuring that Ukraine’s education system not only recovers - but emerges stronger, more resilient, and aligned with European values and standards.
„Lithuania’s support for Ukraine is not a momentary gesture - it is a long-term commitment rooted in solidarity and shared values. By rebuilding education, we are rebuilding hope, dignity, and the foundation for a democratic future.“ said Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys.
At the core of the MoU is a €17 million investment into a modern, multi-functional school hub in Zhytomyr. It will be built with Future School for Ukraine project design, developed by Italian and Ukrainian architects, who won an international competition, initiated by Lithuania in 2023. The Future School for Ukraine project will offer a free, ready-to-use design to build schools that are modular, inclusive, and equipped to function in both peacetime and war conditions. Building this school hub — the first facility in Ukraine based on New European Bauhaus values — is a natural continuation of Lithuania’s commitment to Ukraine’s education recovery.
“Ukraine is transforming its education system at every level — from content to infrastructure — to meet today’s needs and build for the future. In this effort, Lithuania is one of our strategic partners with more than ten education recovery projects already implemented. This new phase promises great impact — from ensuring access to safe learning environments to launching catch-up programmes for children. We are grateful to Lithuania for its unwavering support.” said Yevhen Kudriavets, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine.
The MoU also allocates €3 million for solar energy systems in 14 schools and kindergartens, from Volyn to Zaporizhzhia - including the regions of Chernivtsi, Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv. It will help them to stay operational during outages and reduce long-term energy costs. Due to the ongoing attacks by russia, many schools and kindergartens experienced daily power supply disruptions. In response to the situation, Lithuania will finance installation of solar energy systems for Ukraine’s educational institutions.
All projects under the MoU will be implemented by Lithuania’s development agency, the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA).
Restoring More Than Buildings
The war has devastated not only classrooms, but childhoods. Prolonged isolation and online learning severely impacted children’s social and academical achievements.
The further €1 million from Lithuania and Taiwan will support the Catch-up and STEAM programme in the Odesa region, developed by CPVA and Ukrainian partner savED. This intervention responds to findings from PISA 2022, which showed that rural pupils in Ukraine lag behind their urban peers by as much as five school years in reading, and 4.5 years in math. The programme addresses growing disparities in learning outcomes caused by the russian war.
The project provides extra lessons in key subjects for pupils lagging behind and STEAM enrichment activities for high-performers. It will be based in the recently opened underground school-shelter built with funding from the EU, Lithuania, and Ireland. Four pilot schools from Velykodolynska Hromada will participate, offering weekly structured classes.
Lithuania: A Strategic Partner in Ukraine’s Education Recovery
This new phase builds on more than 10 education recovery projects already implemented by Lithuanian CPVAacross Ukraine. From rebuilding school in Avdiivka in 2021 to the reconstructed school and kindergarten in Kyiv region in 2023, restoring education access in the Mykolaiv and Sumy regions, and building dual-use underground shelters for schools in front-line areas.
With a proven record and long-term presence on the ground, Lithuania — in close partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine — is taking on a strategic role in Ukraine’s education sector recovery, delivering real impact through credible partnerships and coordinated international engagement.
The initiative is implemented with the assistance of the Partnerships Coordination Office of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.