According to new clarifications from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, male students and teachers are allowed to travel abroad in certain cases. The decision has been the subject of discussion after several months of uncertainty regarding the travel of those registered for military service.
Starting in 2024, Ukrainian male students and teachers will be able to travel abroad, said Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mykhailo Vynnytskyi.
"For the departure of military-obligated scientific and pedagogical workers, a letter from the Ministry of Education and Science to the State Border Service is required with a request to consider the possibility of crossing the border. From January 1 to September 30, 2024, the ministry prepared 1,297 such letters. During this period, as many as one scientific and pedagogical worker did not return from abroad on time," Vynnytskyi noted.
Regarding young students, he recalled that since the beginning of the full-scale offensive of Russian occupation troops on Ukraine, they have not been able to travel abroad to participate in international educational programs. However, starting in 2024, they have been able to travel to study at foreign higher education institutions.
According to the Deputy Minister of Education, Ukrainian higher education institutions sent 561 students abroad to participate in academic mobility programs from January 1 to April 1, 2024, and all male students returned from abroad without exception. Vinnytskyi called this a very good statistic.
Mobilization in Ukraine – going abroad
After the law on mobilization came into force, the State Border Service of Ukraine reported that the government may make changes to the rules for crossing the border.
Soon, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine announced that the border crossing rules had been updated for students. It was noted that it became possible not only for girls, but also for boys to travel to study under academic mobility programs.
