Transforming How Refugee Students Learn
Children living abroad after being forced from their homes by the war in Ukraine often face difficulties learning while attending school in their host countries. Technical subjects like science and math are particularly challenging. But now an innovative platform that UNICEF helped implement is clearing barriers and transforming the learning experience.
Learning subjects like chemistry, geometry or biology can be difficult enough as it is. Now imagine learning these concepts in a different country and language, in a classroom filled with peers who have followed a different curriculum.
This is the challenge faced by thousands of Ukraine’s children and youth who have been displaced abroad since the escalation of the war in February 2022.
But in Poland, home to nearly 1 million refugees from Ukraine – the vast majority of whom are women and children – an innovative solution is being implemented to help students thrive.
Introducing Pi-station: a game changer for supporting children's education in emergencies
Angelika Apanowicz is a chemistry and biology teacher in Warsaw. When she began teaching refugees in her classroom, she noticed how difficult it was to teach technical subjects like chemistry and biology, in particular – not only due to language barriers, but also due to students having a different educational background in these subjects.
Drawing on her more than 19 years of experience, she started using an innovative platform, including a website and YouTube videos, called “Pi-station,’’ or "Pi-stacja" in Polish, a play on both the number π and the word for “pistachio nut.” As an alternative to traditional textbooks, it helps students "crack open" challenging topics and gain the confidence to succeed.
Accessible anytime, anywhere, on any device and without registration, Pi-station provides learning resources in a language that refugee children understand, empowering them to overcome educational hurdles and better prepare for their futures.
The tool was created by the non-profit Katalyst Education Foundation and implemented in collaboration with the UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland.
Angelika joined Pi-station as an expert a few years back to develop educational materials, addressing gaps she found in standard textbooks.
"Condensing a lesson into a six-to-eight-minute video, even when the textbook covers it in 20 pages, is challenging but rewarding," she says. "We carefully select concepts and visuals, linking topics across subjects for better integration."
“The idea is to break down everything students need to know," explains Małgorzata Kazubska from the Katalyst Education Foundation. "We help them connect what they learn in school to the world around them by sparking their curiosity with memorable questions, and examples such as why an egg will never be cooked on Mount Everest."
Originally designed for Polish students, Pi-station has been adapted to support refugee children and adolescents from Ukraine in Polish schools, helping bridge language and curriculum gaps. Ukrainian subtitles allow students to focus on the relevant concepts without the language barrier.
By using Pi-station, Angelika can help refugee students feel supported and make sure they don't need to depend on phones for translations. It is especially helpful for refugee children who are uncertain about how long they will be away from home, and for 6th and 7th graders preparing for exams.
“It’s irreplaceable," she says. "As a teacher, I get ready-made quality materials without extra preparation."
While schools use Pi-station to enhance teaching, many parents also rely on it for after-school support. When students struggle or miss lessons, Angelika shares Pi-station materials with parents to help children review lessons at home instead of using private tutoring, which can be too expensive for many refugee families.
"Now more than ever, there is a critical need for effective educational support," says Francesco Calcagno, Chief of Education at the UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland. "Digital learning and resources are essential for UNICEF to combat learning losses during emergencies and disruptions, such as those we’ve been witnessing after the escalation of the war in Ukraine.
Pi-station "is a game changer for children from Ukraine in Poland now," Calcagno adds, "but it also means high-quality open educational resources for every child, long-term."
This is a game changer for children from Ukraine in Poland now, but it also means high-quality open educational resources for every child, long-term. — Francesco Calcagno, Chief of Education at UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland
By combining UNICEF’s expertise in crisis contexts supporting the most vulnerable groups with Katalyst Education Foundation’s cutting-edge solutions in education, Pi-station is helping children, parents, and teachers adapt to new challenges and navigate new environments.
Learn more about how UNICEF supports children's education around the world.
This story was originally published by UNICEF Europe and Central Asia.
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