CrimeaSOS: lack of information is one of the main problems of applicants from the TOT when entering higher education institutions

One of the primary problems for applicants from the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) during admission to Ukrainian universities is the lack of information and untimely communication. This is stated in the “Analysis of access to education of persons from the territories that are temporarily occupied“, which was prepared by the members of the Coalition of NGOs that care for the protection of the rights of persons affected by armed aggression against Ukraine. 

“When contacting the “hotlines” of NGOs, applicants from among the residents of the TOT and internally displaced persons repeatedly stated that the information regarding the admission procedure, benefits to which applicants and students were entitled was not sufficient. Dissemination of the necessary information is carried out through limited communication channels”, —the analysis states.

Applicants from the temporarily occupied territories cannot actually make phone calls to the territory under the control of the Government of Ukraine using nationwide numbers. Therefore, applicants from the TOT start contacting universities only a few months before the start of the admissions campaign, but they do not actually have access to information.

Against the background of limited access to information, a number of gaps in regulatory documents and implemented mechanisms were identified, which create significant obstacles in access to education for persons from the TOT. 

The members of the Coalition have developed recommendations for improving the mechanism of access of applicants from the TOT to universities in the territories under the control of the Government of Ukraine, in particular:

1. 1.Ensure timely and systematic informing of persons about the possibilities of access to preschool, general secondary, vocational and higher education.
2. 2.Develop and implement an educational concept for residents of the TOT, determining the specifics of the involvement of such citizens in Ukrainian education at various levels and in various forms.
3. 3.Provide up-to-date information on the website of the Ministry of Education and Science regarding the simplified admission procedure through the “Crimea-Ukraine” and “Donbas-Ukraine” Centres in 2023, in particular: terms and forms for applicants to obtain documents on basic secondary education or full general secondary education, terms and forms of admission for obtaining higher or professional pre-higher education, the procedure for online submission of documents.

On July 11, 2023, members of the Coalition and the NGO “Almenda” initiated and held an expert discussion on “Education as an element of reintegration processes of the population of the de-occupied territories”. Representatives of NGOs, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Commissioner for the Rights of Citizens Victims of Armed Aggression against Ukraine and Ukrainian higher education institutions took part in the discussion.