From 9 November 2026, all schools in the Bucha community in the Kyiv region switched to an adapted timetable, under which lesson lengths have been reduced to 35 minutes. The decision was taken due to prolonged power cuts, falling temperatures and shorter daylight hours. Despite the difficult situation with the electricity supply, the local authorities decided to maintain face-to-face teaching, organising lessons so that pupils could get home before it gets dark. The Bucha City Council announced the changes. The new format has been introduced in line with the recommendations of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
- From 9 November, all schools in the Bucha community switched to an adapted timetable.
- The duration of each lesson has been reduced to 35 minutes due to energy restrictions.
- The changes were caused by power cuts, a drop in temperature and shorter daylight hours.
- Classes will continue to be held in person, and lessons are scheduled to finish before dusk.
Why have lesson lengths been reduced in the Kyiv region?
The Bucha City Council explained that the change to the timetable is primarily due to the situation in the power system. Prolonged power cuts make it difficult to organise teaching, particularly during the autumn and winter months, when there is less natural light and the air temperature drops.
Shortening lesson times should enable schools to make more effective use of daylight hours and reduce the educational process’s reliance on a stable electricity supply. At the same time, local authorities emphasise that the safety of children and the preservation of face-to-face learning remain the top priorities.
The decision applies to all general secondary schools in the Bucha community. However, there has been no announcement regarding the switch to a similar timetable for all schools in the Kyiv region.
Pupils must finish their lessons before it gets dark
One of the main reasons for introducing an adapted timetable was the shorter days. In November, dusk falls much earlier, so finishing lessons at the usual time could cause additional inconvenience for children who walk home on their own.
The new timetable is designed to organise the school day so that pupils can leave school whilst it is still light. This is particularly important given the disruptions to street lighting and the electricity supply in residential areas.
The city council emphasised that direct interaction between pupils, teachers and their peers remains vital to a comprehensive educational process. That is why, rather than switching entirely to distance learning, the local community has opted to reduce the length of lessons.
What parents of schoolchildren need to know
Parents have been urged to be understanding of the changes and to check the new timetables at schools in advance. As a result of the reduction in lesson numbers, the end time of the school day may change, which should be taken into account when planning how to collect children.
It is recommended that particular attention be paid to the routes to and from school. Given the short daylight hours and possible disruptions to street lighting, it is important that children use safe and familiar routes.
The Bucha City Council has not specified until what date the adapted timetable will remain in force. Nor has it yet been announced whether other local authorities in the Kyiv region are planning similar changes.
