Children «piled on top of one another» — school shelters in Mykolaiv to be inspected following complaints from parents

An inspection will be carried out following complaints about conditions in school shelters in Mykolaiv. Photo: archive NikVesti

In Mykolaiv, checks will be carried out to assess how children’s stay in shelters is organised during air raid alerts. In particular, the operation of ventilation systems will be inspected, as well as whether there is sufficient space for children during prolonged alerts.

Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych issued this instruction during a staff meeting on 7 September, according to NikVesti.

He said that air raid alerts have recently become more frequent and longer, meaning children are spending more time in shelters. The mayor noted that he receives information about the situation there not only from city council staff, but also from parents and city residents.

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«As the number of air raid alerts and their duration have increased, the number of children using shelters and the time they spend there has also increased. I receive information about the situation there not only from city council staff, but also from parents and city residents,» said Oleksandr Sienkevych.

According to the mayor, he has been informed, in particular, of instances where the ventilation in the shelters is switched on and off, causing the children to be in uncomfortable conditions.

«In one of the schools, the extractor fan does not run continuously: it is switched on, switched off, and then switched on again. This makes the children uncomfortable. Yes, the ventilation makes noise, but this noise is far less harmful to health than poor air quality,» explained Oleksandr Sienkevych.

According to him, when some shelters were fitted out, it was not taken into account that the ventilation systems might need to run for long periods.

«In some shelters, it wasn’t anticipated that the extractor fans would run, let’s say, all day. So they’re simply switched off. Sometimes headteachers try to save electricity, but this mustn’t be done. We must not prioritise saving electricity over our children’s health. They will fall ill as a result, and we will end up using up other resources. Why did we do all this? Not for the sake of extractor fans or electricity — we did it for the sake of education,» emphasised the mayor.

Oleksandr Sienkevych instructed the Department of Education, in conjunction with the State Emergency Service, to inspect all schools and nurseries where children are attending in person, in particular to check the presence and functionality of ventilation systems and ensure they operate continuously whilst the children are in the shelters.

What the Department of Education says about ventilation

Hanna Lychko, head of the Mykolaiv City Council’s Department of Education, stated that the heads of educational institutions had already been reminded of the need to keep ventilation running at all times in the shelters.

«I made it clear to all heads straight away: you mustn’t skimp on using ventilation. It must be switched on,» said Hanna Lychko.

At the same time, she noted that high outdoor temperatures are currently causing an additional problem, as ventilation systems draw air from outside.

«The only problem at the moment is that the ventilation draws air from outside, and it’s hot outside. The maintenance organisation is currently visiting educational establishments to check the ventilation systems. We’re working to make things more comfortable for the children,» explained the head of the education department.

What is happening at Gymnasium №24

In a comment to NikVesti, Hanna Lychko separately explained the situation at Gymnasium №24 in Matviivka. Previously, parents of pupils had contacted the editorial office to complain about the conditions their children faced in the shelter during air raid alerts. According to them, it was sweltering inside, there were a large number of children there at the same time, and the ventilation was not working.

«Last week, the school operated on a single shift. The Education Department recommended reducing the number of children in the shelters. This could have been achieved by switching the school to a two-shift system. After the first week of term, the headteacher realised that it really was necessary to operate on a two-shift basis. They are now operating on a two-shift basis,» said Hanna Lychko.

Gymnasium No. 24 in the Matviivka neighbourhood. Photo: archive NikVesti

She confirmed that the school’s existing shelter has ventilation. The problem, she said, was the high temperature of the air coming in from outside.

«At the staff meeting, I said we needed to reduce the number of people in there. We were well aware that the standards weren’t being met here, because the ventilation air was being drawn in from outside, and it was sweltering out there — over 30 degrees,» explained the head of the education department.

At the same time, Hanna Lychko clarified that all the most basic shelters, which have already been approved and are in use, have ventilation.

According to her, there is one instance where part of a renovated shelter has not yet been commissioned precisely because of a lack of ventilation. Donors are due to install the necessary equipment there by 1 December.

«We do not accept such shelters. The donors have now promised to have this done by 1 December,» said Hanna Lychko.

She added that this school already has another operational shelter with ventilation and the relevant certification, which is why lessons are being held there.

Parents are complaining about overcrowded shelters

The issue of the conditions in which children find themselves during air raid alerts has also been highlighted in the comments section of a post on NikVesti about the organisation of teaching in Mykolaiv’s schools.

Parents, in particular, complain about situations where children from a large number of classes go down to the shelter at the same time. As a result, the premises become overcrowded, making it more difficult to conduct proper lessons there.

In particular, a reader, Tetiana Sanzharevska, wrote that children from different classes are kept together in the shelter at Gymnasium №52.

«And at Gymnasium №52, the basement shelter is simply a complete mess. All the classes are together, crammed on top of one another. Noise, commotion. It’s all a bit of a madhouse,» she wrote.

Another reader, Iryna Tkach, questioned whether it was possible for children to receive a proper education in shelters, especially given that Mykolaiv remains a frontline city.

«I’m speechless… in how many schools are «shelters» being used to hold lessons? It’s a frontline area; the children are in basements more often than they are in classrooms,» her comment reads.

Another reader, Nataliia Drohina, described the situation at School №13.

«At School №13, everyone is just sitting on chairs together and not a single lesson has been held! Why haven’t the shelters been fitted out as classrooms? They’re just sitting in the basement all day — what’s the point of opening such schools and enrolling children in them?!» she wrote.

Parents’ complaints about conditions in school shelters in Mykolaiv under the post «NikVesti» on Facebook. Screenshot

The education department cites a two-shift system as one way of reducing the number of children in shelters at any one time.

According to Hanna Lychko, it is not equally easy to switch all classes to a two-shift system. It is easiest to do this in primary schools, where most subjects are taught by a single teacher. For older year groups, the organisation is more complex and depends on the number of children and the size of the shelter.

Gymnasium №24 switched to a two-shift system after the first week of term, precisely to reduce the number of children in the shelter at any one time.

«After the first week of term, the headteacher realised that a two-shift system was indeed necessary. They are now studying in two shifts,» said Hanna Lychko.

Mayor advocates for face-to-face learning

At the same time, Oleksandr Sienkevych stated that the city should preserve the option of face-to-face learning as much as possible, provided that safe conditions are in place. He also criticised the idea of switching entirely to distance learning for schoolchildren.

«Personally, I do not believe in online learning for school-age children. I do not believe that children studying remotely can acquire a proper education. I have two children, and I saw this for myself during the Covid pandemic. Children aren’t learning: they’re playing, doing their own thing, and chatting to someone at the same time. There is no proper learning process. And I understand that there are risks to children’s safety today, but these are significantly lower in shelters,» said the mayor.

Sienkevych instructed officials to check whether the ventilation in the shelters is working continuously during air raid alerts. Photo: NikVesti

As a reminder, this academic year in Mykolaiv, 45 schools are operating with in-person teaching, whilst a further 12 are teaching remotely. 19,308 pupils have opted for in-person learning, whilst 8,060 have chosen remote learning.

At the same time, due to the security situation, the city continues to seek ways to organise teaching so that children can remain in schools, but during prolonged air raid alerts are not confined to overcrowded shelters and are provided with adequate conditions.