Nearly 100,000 first-grader families apply for schoolchild package aid

Applications for state assistance Schoolchild Package have already been submitted by 97,300 families of Ukrainian first-graders, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity reports.

"Since the launch of the program on August 18, 2025, Ukrainians have submitted 97,638 applications for the Schoolchild Package - this is almost 54% of the number of first-graders already available in the education system. It continues to gradually fill up. 92,519 applications have already been verified. Most often, they are made online - 94,142 applications were submitted through the Diia app, the remaining 3,496 - in writing to the service centers of the Pension Fund of Ukraine," the ministry said in a statement.

As of today, 1,655 applications have been rejected, in particular, 460 rejections due to the fact that under the terms of the program, families who are abroad can receive assistance only after returning to Ukraine, and those who are in the temporarily occupied territories - after returning to the territory controlled by Ukraine. In addition, another 940 applications were rejected, since it later turned out that the child was expelled or transferred to another educational institution, and in this case the application must be submitted again.

The ministry said parents or legal representatives of this year's first-graders can receive assistance.

Parents or legal representatives of first-graders can use the funds within 180 days from the moment they are credited for purchases in both offline and online stores.

Participation in the School Student Package program is open to all stores with the field of activity "sale of school supplies (stationery), children's clothing and footwear" and the corresponding codes, namely: 5,641 - children's clothing, 5,651 - clothing for the whole family, 5,661 - shoe stores and 5,943 - stationery.

"In general, the program will last until November 15, 2025 - so all families have plenty of time to submit an application. Even if the child is enrolled in the first grade after the start of the school year, assistance will be assigned to the family," the ministry added.

As reported, on July 7, the Cabinet of Ministers launched the payment of School Student Packages in the amount of UAH 5,000 for the purchase of necessary stationery, children's clothing and footwear for those who send their child to the first grade in an offline format.

The Ministry of Social Policy stated that the goal of the "School Student Package" program is to encourage families raising children to stay in Ukraine.

On August 6, Ukrainian Book Institute (UBI) Director Oleksandra Koval, calls on the Cabinet of Ministers to allow the purchase of books with funds from the state payment School Student Package.

On August 25, the Ukrainian Publishing Association calls on the authorities to allow the purchase of books with funds from the state payment School Student Package.

Acting Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, Tetiana Berezhna, stated that the government is working on this, and the issue is in the technical implementation through the Diia app.