Ministry of Education and Science seeks additional UAH 3.6 billion in the 2027 draft state budget: funds needed for shelters and underground schools
The Ministry of Education and Science is asking for an additional UAH 3.6 billion for education to be included in the 2027 draft state budget. The ministry says funding is needed for new shelters, underground schools and the completion of projects already underway.
Censor.NET reports that Education and Science Minister Andrii Butenko said this during a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science and Innovation.
According to the minister, additional funding is needed for safe learning and access to in-person classes, equipping shelters, modernizing New Ukrainian School spaces, upgrading school canteens, purchasing equipment for school kitchens, providing school buses and equipping workshops.
"We would like to keep these expenditures at least at last year’s level, but they are somewhat lower in the current draft. We need new bomb shelters, new anti-radiation shelters, underground schools, and we also need to complete projects that have already been started," Butenko said.
Deputy Finance Minister Roman Yermolichev said that, while preparing the draft state budget, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education and Science had reviewed all planned expenditures. If the ministry sees that funds are being used inefficiently in certain areas, he said, they can be reallocated to critical needs.
"Even compared with 2026, we have included an additional UAH 50.8 billion. I’m sorry, but under the current circumstances, that is a very substantial resource," Yermolichev said.
He also urged officials to assess how efficiently funds are used in each education program, emphasizing that funding should go first and foremost to teachers, children and the quality of education.
- Censor.NET previously reported that the 2027 draft state budget allocates UAH 328.5 billion for education and science. Spending is set to increase by UAH 50.8 billion compared with 2026, but the final amounts may still change as the Verkhovna Rada considers the draft budget.
