10/23/2023 – Russia forced to close school in occupied Kherson oblast for lack of teachers willing to collaborate

From Human Rights in Ukraine by Halya Coynash

Russia abducted school directors, threatened to take children from their parents and tried other methods of coercion, but has consistently had difficulty in foisting its propaganda on Kherson oblast schools

Kakhovka is Ukraine Mass demonstration on 6 March 2022 Photo Oleh Baturin

The Russian occupiers opened a school in occupied Arkhangelska Sloboda (Kherson oblast) on 3 October, only to close it the following day.  The ceremonial   opening gave local collaborators a good propaganda photo opportunity, however parents have told the Centre for Journalist Investigations [CJI] that the Russians were unable to muster up enough teachers, willing to collaborate.  The same reluctance by teachers in the Zeleny Pid Rural Hromada to work for the invaders led to a school head being brought in from occupied Crimea for the school in Kostohryzove.   On 9 October, the occupation regime claimed that a school would be opened in the village of Zeleny Pid, however CJI reports that it remains unclear whether this will be possible. 

The claim that children in Arkhangelska Sloboda had to be sent to continue studies online is also suspect, given the erratic Internet connection on occupied territory.

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