The Mykolaiv Education Department expects 2,500 first-year pupils by 1 September

The Mykolaiv Education Department expects 2,500 first-year pupils by 1 September. Photo from the NikVesti archive

In Mykolaiv, the number of first-year pupils has fallen by 45% compared to pre-war years.

This was announced on 30 April during an online broadcast by Hanna Lychko, head of the Mykolaiv City Council’s Education Department.

According to her, 1,643 applications for admission to the first year have already been submitted to schools. It is expected that the number of applications will rise to approximately 2,500 by the end of the application period (31 May).

«In 2021–2022, we had 4,533 children. Every year, we have around 2,500 first-year pupils. We would like to have many more children, but the birth rate statistics do not yet give us cause for optimism in this regard,» says Hanna Lychko.

Trend in the decline in first-year pupils in Mykolaiv. Screenshot from the broadcast

She also reminded parents of the documents required for enrolment in Year 1: a parental application, the child’s birth certificate, a medical certificate and proof of address.

Applications can be submitted online via the ISUO system, in person, or electronically. The following are required for enrolment: an application, the child’s birth certificate, a medical certificate, and proof of residence.

Educational institutions are accepting documents until 31 May. The school will then enrol those children who have priority for admission, namely children who live within the designated catchment area, have siblings at the school, or whose parents work at the school. After that, children will be enrolled in any remaining places.

It was previously reported that the number of schoolchildren in Mykolaiv has fallen by 25% compared to pre-war years. Currently, 34,572 children are enrolled in the city’s general secondary education institutions.