Mykolaiv may switch schools to distance learning due to massive «mining»

Shelters in schools in Mykolaiv region that started working offline, archive photo: NikVesti

In Mykolaiv, due to daily reports of bomb threats in schools and kindergartens, the authorities are considering switching schools to distance learning.

First Deputy Mayor of Mykolaiv Vitalii Lukov told NikVesti.

According to the first deputy mayor, reports of bomb threats to schools or kindergartens are received five days a week.

«Such mines are reported throughout Ukraine, except for three regions — Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson. In other regions, in other schools, the situation is the same as here. During the first month of the new year, reports of bomb threats have become much more frequent than last year — ten times more,» he said.

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The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine does not currently provide clear recommendations on the format of education in the face of such massive bomb threats, leaving this issue to the discretion of local authorities.

«The Ministry of Education has not yet provided any specific recommendations, and each school has the right to decide how to organise the learning process — remotely or in a mixed format. In the coming days, we will discuss this with the mayor and decide whether to recommend school principals to switch to distance learning,» he said.

Vitalii Lukov added that constant evacuations significantly delay the educational process, so distance learning can be a compromise solution.

«We understand that learning, like this week and last week, is not learning. The constant disruption of lessons means that there is no remote or face-to-face work. Therefore, schools can decide how to proceed autonomously. If schools decide to switch to remote learning, the police will be able to check bomb threats more quickly, and children will not be left outside for long periods of time during evacuations. There is a parent council or school council in each institution, they can also make a decision,» he said.

As for the process of responding to bomb threats, local authorities are not able to revise strict security protocols, as this issue is the responsibility of the central government.

«It is not our authority. Only the authorities at the central level can change this, but there are very strict procedures and clear protocols. We can't not take the children out and at the same time conduct a bomb threat check of a school or kindergarten. This is irresponsible. First and foremost, I hope everyone understands that we are at war with inadequacy. And now the enemy is using all means and methods to terrorise the civilian population to the maximum extent possible,» he summed up.

As you know, from 20 to 27 January 2025, almost every day in Mykolaiv, there were reports of bomb threats in all schools in the city, as well as in the regional council building, the office of the head of the regional police department and the offices of some companies.