Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
According to MP Yuriy Pavlenko, most educational institutions still need fully equipped shelters. At the same time, the coverage rate of protective facilities in schools is 83%, in kindergartens — over 82%, and in universities and colleges — only 68%.
The Cabinet of Ministers proposes to nearly halve funding for outfitting shelters in schools, kindergartens, and universities in 2027. This was stated by Member of Parliament Yuriy Pavlenko while commenting on the draft State Budget approved in the first reading. According to him, a significant portion of educational institutions still do not have fully functional protective facilities, even though children spend the majority of their time there.
The draft State Budget of Ukraine for 2027 provides for a reduction in expenditures for outfitting shelters in educational institutions by almost half. This concerns schools, kindergartens, universities, and colleges.
This issue was highlighted by MP Yuriy Pavlenko while commenting on the draft state budget approved in the first reading. In his view, the funding cut could negatively affect the safety of children and students, since far from all educational institutions are equipped with full protective facilities.
"Anyone who deals with the work of educational institutions understands that most of them do not have fully equipped shelters. At the same time, it is there that children, especially students in grades 1–3, spend the majority of their time," Pavlenko emphasized.
How many educational institutions have shelters
The issue of providing educational institutions with protective facilities remains relevant even despite the gradual outfitting of new shelters.
Earlier, Koretskyi stated that as of 1 September, shelters were available to 83% of schoolchildren and to over 82% of kindergarten attendees.
At the same time, the situation is more complicated in institutions of higher and professional pre-higher education: the shelter coverage rate in universities and colleges is only 68%.
These figures indicate that a significant portion of participants in the educational process still need access to adequate protective facilities. Younger schoolchildren remain a particularly vulnerable category, as they spend a large part of the day in educational institutions and require appropriate safety conditions.
Why the funding cut causes concern
Outfitting shelters involves not only renovating basement premises. It is about creating a safe space that must meet established requirements, provide the necessary capacity, and allow children and staff to stay there during air raid alerts.
For many schools, kindergartens, and universities, such work requires substantial capital investments. Without proper state funding, communities and institution leadership will find it harder to complete ongoing projects and equip new protective facilities.
At the same time, the draft State Budget-2027 has only passed the first reading so far, so its financial figures may still change during further consideration in the Verkhovna Rada.
Earlier, StopCor wrote that the Verkhovna Rada supported in the first reading the draft State Budget of Ukraine for 2027 with expenditures of 7,27 trillion hryvnias, nearly 4,9 trillion of which are planned for defense and security. The document also provides for salary increases for servicemembers, a minimum wage at the level of 9546 hryvnias, and a projected dollar exchange rate of 47,1 hryvnias. The final budget is planned to be adopted at the end of November, so some indicators may still change.
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