In Mykolaiv Oblast, teachers are being forced to clean the streets: the ombudsman is demanding an explanation

Ukraine’s Education Ombudsman, Nadiya Leshchyk, has reported a possible violation of the rights of employees at educational institutions in Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv Oblast. According to her, teachers and other education sector employees were forcibly conscripted into community improvement projects.

The ombudsman reported this on her Facebook page.

Leshchyk stated that she was contacted by employees of educational institutions under the Pervomaisk City Council, who reported being forced to clean public areas and whitewash trees. During her investigation, she obtained telephone memos from the Department of Education addressed to the heads of educational institutions.

Specifically, one of the memos asked administrators to provide lists of staff members to participate in cleaning community areas, while another requested lists for whitewashing trees. The documents also specified the location and time for staff to assemble, as well as a list of items they were required to bring to perform the work.

Employees of educational institutions reported that participation in such activities was formally referred to as a “request,” but in reality, it was impossible to refuse.

The Education Ombudsman reviewed the decision by the Pervomaisk City Council’s executive committee to hold a two-month spring campaign for the beautification and sanitation of the community’s territory. According to the work plan, the Department of Education was tasked with cleaning streets, parks, and waterfront areas, as well as whitewashing trees, curbs, and flower beds.

In the opinion of Nadiya Leshchyk, such actions do not fall within the scope of the Department of Education’s functions and may indicate a violation of employees’ labor rights, as well as the principles of educational institution autonomy and academic freedom.

In this regard, the ombudsman sent a letter to the chair of the Pervomaisk City Council demanding that the rights of participants in the educational process and teaching staff be upheld. At the same time, she reported that she has not yet received a response to her appeal.

The Education Ombudsman called on local government bodies to cease the practice of forcibly conscripting employees of educational institutions into public works projects and emphasized the need to comply with the requirements of legislation governing education and labor rights.

Андрій Колісніченко