Education and National Defense: New Perspectives
The Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Oksen Lisovyi, emphasized that for Ukrainians over 25, the right to education should not serve as a way to evade military duty.
He expressed this opinion during a meeting with university rectors in the Lviv region, as noted in his social media post.
Lisovyi stated that Ukraine needs conditions where the right to education will not be exploited. Moreover, he highlighted that university leaders are responsible for the students enrolled in their institutions.
“The right to education is not an indulgence from the duty to defend the state [...] This is not just a matter of legality, but also of honor, professional reputation, and civic responsibility,” the minister asserted.
It is noteworthy that in 2024, the number of men over 25 entering higher education institutions in Ukraine has decreased compared to the previous two years.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Mykhailo Vynnytskyi, attributed the decline in male students to changes in the rules for obtaining deferrals, which are now available only to those pursuing education continuously.
Additionally, between April and August 2024, more than 23,000 male students over 30 were expelled from universities due to academic failure or attendance issues.
