Oliver Bard

In Ukraine, education continues under extraordinary pressure, sustained by many who refuse to let learning disappear even as it is repeatedly interrupted. The most immediate challenge is physical safety. Thousands of schools have been damaged or destroyed since the full-scale invasion began. In many regions, in-person learning is possible only when shelters are available and air-raid procedures are rehearsed as carefully as lesson plans. A mathematics class can be paused mid-equation by a...

In Sudan, the school year has no reliable start date. Calendars are printed, revised, then abandoned as political instability and armed conflict reshape daily life. Since fighting erupted between rival military forces in 2023, education has become one of the most fragile public systems in Sudan because the conditions required for schooling have steadily disappeared. One of the most immediate challenges is the collapse of governance around education. Many schools are left without functioning...

In Finland, there are no private tutors, no standardized testing mania, no pay-to-play schooling — and yet, Finnish students consistently rank among the world’s best. The secret isn’t competition; it’s equality. Every Finnish child attends a public school funded equitably through national tax revenue. Teachers hold master’s degrees and earn professional respect on par with doctors. School days are shorter, homework lighter, and creativity prioritized. As a result, Finland boasts one of the...