The school curriculum for the course “Holocaust History” has been approved by the Ukrainian Ministry of Education – an important step in preserving historical memory

The Ministry of Education of Ukraine has officially approved a new curriculum dedicated to the Holocaust. This historic event is of significant importance both for Ukrainians and the Jewish community.

The program will be taught in high school (grades 10-11) and is the result of the initiative of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU).

This was reported on April 27, 2025, to Ynet by Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of the Council of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine. According to him, “the approval of the program allows educators in the country to include this important historical topic in their lessons.”

“This program, written in collaboration with Dr. Igor Shchupak and Dr. Vyacheslav Maiorsky, is now a recognized standard for teaching the Holocaust in schools and colleges across Ukraine,” said Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine. According to him, “the approval of the program allows educators in the country to include this important historical topic in their lessons.”

Some Israeli media outlets called this program “mandatory“, but in reality, it is a “Elective Course Curriculum” (i.e., not mandatory for study – ed.). As stated in the original:

Structure of the elective course. The course program provides for the study of 15 topics and the protection of students. The time needed to study a particular section of the topic is determined by the teacher, based on the number of hours allocated in the educational program for the elective course.

The program was prepared back in 2024 by Dr. Igor Shchupak and Dr. Vyacheslav Maiorsky.

The previous edition was approved for use in general secondary education institutions (Protocol No. 2 dated June 7, 2018) (Letter from the Institute for the Modernization of Educational Content of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine dated August 20, 2018, No. 22.1/12-G-800).

This is an important step for education and the memory of the Holocaust tragedy.

The Program and Its Significance

Developed in collaboration with the Holocaust Research Institute Tkuma and the memorial complex “Yad Vashem” in Israel, the program covers a wide range of topics that highlight important moments in Ukrainian and world history. The program covers the tragedy of the Holocaust within the context of broader history and addresses key events, such as The Holodomor and other tragic moments in Ukrainian history.

“The program, approved by the Ministry of Education, is the first case of such in-depth study of the Holocaust in schools on the post-Soviet space,” said Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of the Council of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine.

Program Topics

The program covers the following topics:

1. Jews in the Ukrainian Revolution — the role of Jews in revolutionary events and the related conflicts.
2. Anti-Jewish Pogroms and Myths — historical memory of the pogroms, widespread myths, and their consequences.
3. Jews in Soviet Russia and during Revolutionary Events in Ukraine — the participation of Jews in revolutionary events and their status in Soviet Russia.
4. Jews of Ukraine during the socio-economic changes of the 1920s and 1930s — the impact of socio-economic changes on the Jewish community of Ukraine.
5. The Fate of the Peoples of Ukraine during the Holodomor of 1932-1933 — the impact of the Holodomor on both the Ukrainian and Jewish populations.
6. “National Dimension” of Mass Repressions in the USSR during the 1930s — mass repressions and their impact on various ethnic groups, including Jews.

Additional topics for study include:

• The attitude of the Ukrainian population towards the Nazi genocide of Jews.
• The Ukrainian liberation movement, OUN, UPA, and the “Jewish Question”.
• The Righteous Among the Nations in Ukraine, with a focus on some prominent Ukrainian figures.
• The dilemmas of moral choice and Jewish resistance in occupied territories of Europe.
• Jewish survival in the face of Nazi genocide and participation in resistance movements.
• Uprisings in ghettos and concentration camps.
• Jews in the armies of the Allies and their contribution to the victory over Nazism.

The Importance of Holocaust Education for Ukraine

Ukraine became the first post-Soviet country to make the study of the Holocaust a mandatory part of the educational curriculum. This is of great importance for future generations, who must understand not only the scale of the tragedy but also the role of every nation in these events. The program covers key aspects, such as the involvement of OUN and UPA, as well as the moral dilemmas faced by people during the Nazi terror.

Humanitarian Values and Historical Memory

The building of civil society in Ukraine, the aspiration for European integration, the strengthening of democratic values, and the opposition to manifestations of xenophobia and violence are key directions of this educational program. One of the important factors in implementing this humanitarian vector is the formation of historical consciousness among the citizens of Ukraine through the understanding of historical lessons, including tragedies like the Holocaust.

The history of Jews in Ukraine and the Holocaust are considered within the context of European and world history as important components of European historical memory. The program emphasizes the importance of mutual respect and understanding between nations, as well as analyzing interethnic relations that developed in Ukraine, including long periods of good neighborliness, including Ukrainian-Jewish relationships. The 20th century became a time of tragedies, such as the Holodomor of 1932-1933, in which not only Ukrainians but also Jews, as well as other nations, perished. The Holocaust became one of the most horrific chapters in Ukraine’s history.

Course Goals

The main elements of the goal of studying the history of the Holocaust in general secondary education institutions are:

• Fostering knowledge of the multicultural history of Ukraine, understanding interethnic relations and the key aspects of the history of various peoples of Ukraine, including the Jewish people;

• Studying the history of the Holocaust in the context of the history of Ukraine and world history, developing historical thinking, understanding the historical process, and applying acquired competencies;

• Fostering national consciousness and historical memory, realizing the importance of historical lessons for the present, educating students in universal human spiritual values, promoting the ideas of humanism, democracy, patriotism, and tolerance.

Why Is This Important for Jews in Israel?

For the Jewish community in Ukraine and the entire Jewish world, this event represents a significant step in preserving the historical memory of the Holocaust and Jewish victims in the former Soviet Union. The program is primarily aimed at creating a new generation that will understand and remember the lessons of history. For Jews in Israel, this is also an important moment, as the program is supported by collaboration with “Yad Vashem”, which is the primary center in Israel for studying and preserving the memory of the Holocaust.

NAnews continues to monitor the developments and importance of this step for the further in-depth study of the Holocaust history in post-Soviet countries.

Program – A Significant Step Toward Historical Memory

As the first step for Ukraine, this program serves as an example for other post-Soviet countries.

Holocaust lessons will help students better understand the moral and ethical questions related to the tragedy and human suffering, as well as strengthen values of tolerance and human rights among them.

NAnews on Ukraine’s Important Step

The Holocaust program will not only deepen the knowledge of Ukrainian youth but also play an important role in strengthening the relationship between Ukraine and Israel. This step can be seen as an important milestone on the way to improving educational and cultural ties between the two countries. Ukraine openly recognizes the significance of the Holocaust as part of its historical heritage and interacts with Israeli institutions for better understanding of the tragedy.

To stay up to date with the latest news and events related to the Holocaust, read more at NAnews – https://nikk.agency/.

Unique Authors of the Program

Special attention should be given to the authors of the program. These two significant scholars helped create this unique educational initiative:

• Shchupak I. Ya. — PhD in History, Director of the Ukrainian Institute for Holocaust Research “Tkuma”, Vice-Rector for Scientific Work of the International Humanitarian and Pedagogical Institute “Beit Khana” (Ukraine), Member of the Board of Directors UJE (Canada), Member of the International Council Oswiecim Memorial (Poland), Member of the Ukrainian-German Commission of Historians, Honored Worker of Education of Ukraine.
• Maiorsky V. V. — PhD in Pedagogical Sciences, Teacher-Methodologist, Associate Professor of the Department of Teaching Methodology and Educational Content at the Odel Academy of Continuing Education, Honored Teacher of Ukraine.