Journalists have shown a school shelter in Mykolaiv: classrooms are divided by curtains, with three children per desk

Journalists have shown a school shelter in Mykolaiv: classrooms are divided by curtains, with three children per desk. Photo: Suspilne Mykolaiv

At one of Mykolaiv’s secondary schools, parents are complaining about the conditions in the shelter. According to them, during air raid alerts, the room becomes stifling, the children feel unwell, and due to the lack of space in the shelter, lessons have been organised in two shifts.

This is reported in a feature by «Suspilne Mykolaiv».

The school’s shelter is also being used as a teaching space. Lessons take place inside the shelter, which is divided into separate classrooms by curtains.

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Olena, the mother of an eighth-grader, explained that during lessons in the shelter, the children often struggle to breathe.

«It’s like a sauna in there — there’s a lot of humidity and absolutely no air. The children very often feel unwell and get headaches. Last year, we even had to call an ambulance because one of the children felt so ill,» she said.

According to her, there is also an unpleasant smell in the room, and the children often fall ill after spending time in the shelter.

Journalists showed the school shelter in Mykolaiv: classrooms are divided by curtains, with three children sharing each desk. Photo: Suspilne Mykolaiv

Parents have also pointed out a broken window on the stairs leading to the shelter. According to Olena, it has remained damaged for over three years.

Natalia, the mother of a Year 3 pupil, also said that at the start of the school year, it was very hot and stuffy in the shelter during an air-raid alert. She said that her child now complains less about the conditions, but the parents believe the ventilation system needs to be checked again.

«The children couldn’t stand it; they had headaches,» she said.

It is noted that at the start of the school year, during an air-raid alert, 413 pupils and staff members descended into the shelter at the same time. The premises were not designed to accommodate such a large number of people, so lessons were organised in two shifts.

Journalists showed the school shelter in Mykolaiv: classrooms are divided by curtains, with three children per desk. Photo: Suspilne Mykolaiv

The school’s headteacher, Tamara Zherebtsova, explained that the ventilation system had already been inspected. According to her, following the inspection, the experts recommended raising the ventilation pipe that leads outside to improve air circulation.

«When the commission arrived, they looked at how the ventilation system was working, took photographs of everything, inspected everything, checked the documentation, and by that time we had already switched to a different system; that is, later a father came along, a specialist in ventilation systems. He took all the measurements, and they concluded that the pipe leading outside needed to be raised so that the air could rise,» said the headteacher.

What is happening at Gymnasium №24

In a comment to NikVesti, Hanna Lychko explained the situation regarding Gymnasium №24 in Matviivka separately. Previously, parents of pupils had contacted the editorial office, complaining 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 a two-shift system. They are now operating a two-shift system,» said Hanna Lychko.

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

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

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

She said there is one instance where part of a refurbished 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. 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 for the children are being held there.

It should be noted that, following an order from the mayor, checks will be carried out in Mykolaiv 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.