Three kindergartens in Mykolaiv are set to be closed: they lack shelters

Kindergarten No. 128 in Mykolaiv, which is proposed for closure. Photo: oksagen.ua

Three kindergartens in Mykolaiv, which have been closed during the war, are proposed for closure. It is not possible to set up shelters there, and consequently there are no children attending.

This was announced at a meeting of the Mykolaiv City Council’s Committee on Health and Social Protection on 28 April, according to NikVesti.

Hanna Lychko, head of the city’s education department, reported that there are a total of 73 nurseries in Mykolaiv. Forty-four have resumed in-person operations: these include 43 nurseries and pre-school groups at the Mykolaiv Special School. A total of 7,830 children are currently attending these facilities.

According to Hanna Lychko, there are currently enough places in shelters for the children. However, not all kindergartens have the facilities to set up shelters.

It is proposed to close three kindergartens: №104, №128 and №138. All are located in former residential buildings without basements; consequently, there are no children there, and the facilities are currently idle.

At nursery №104 (59 Torhova Street in the Korabelnyi district), according to Hanna Lychko, the capacity is designed for 31 children. However, there are no pupils as it is not possible to set up a shelter.

«The facility is currently closed. There is no basement at all, so even the most basic shelter cannot be provided. The children will not be returning,» noted the head of the education department.

Nursery School No. 104. Screenshot from the commission’s broadcast

In addition, it is proposed to close nursery school №128 at 62-A Pavlo Skoropadskyi Street. It is also housed in several parts of a former residential building. The facility was designed to accommodate 78 children.

«There are three buildings, and absolutely all of them require major repairs. Because even before the war, before 2018, a project for major repairs was being developed. But it was never carried out,» said Hanna Lychko.

This nursery also has no shelter and no possibility of creating one. The nursery is currently closed.

Kindergarten №128. Screenshot from the commission’s broadcast

And another nursery — №138 on Oleh Kravets Street in Balabanivka. The facility has a capacity of 26 children, i.e. two groups. As in other facilities, there is no basement.

Nursery No. 138. Screenshot from the committee’s broadcast

Accordingly, the councillors plan to close these three nurseries. The committee members agreed to this. Committee Chair Hanna Nord recalled that at the start of their term, the councillors had considered the funding of nurseries and the cost of children attending them.

«The cost of children attending these facilities was exorbitant,» noted the committee chair.

Deputy Oleksandr Medvedev asked about Kindergarten №128, specifically when the paving was laid on the premises. He emphasised that the tiles were in new condition and should be managed ‘properly’. Hanna Nord noted that the issue was not about removing the tiles. However, the facility could be transferred, for example, to foster families.

Hanna Lychko confirmed that the buildings themselves remain under the jurisdiction of the education department. It is the facilities themselves that are being closed down.

As a reminder, the number of nurseries operating in person in Mykolaiv has been increased to 43.