UAH 6 billion planned for needs and meals in Mykolaiv schools

In Mykolaiv, more than UAH 6 billion has been allocated for the Education program. The funds will be used to maintain schools, develop sports facilities and organize meals for students of all levels.

This is stated in the decision of the Mykolaiv City Council of October 16.

The city authorities decided to amend the city's comprehensive program "Education" for 2025-2027. The document has been updated to create proper and safe conditions for the education and upbringing of children in the city's schools.

According to the decision, changes have been made to the section "Ensuring proper conditions for the provision of general secondary education". The updated version sets out three main areas: maintenance and development of educational institutions, catering for primary school students, and provision of meals for middle and high school students, including those belonging to privileged categories and sports classes.

More than UAH 6.3 billion has been allocated for these purposes. Of this amount:

• over UAH 1.7 billion from the local budget,
• more than UAH 3.2 billion - at the expense of the educational subvention,
• more than 590 million - from the state budget,
• the rest is the own revenues of educational institutions.

In particular, more than UAH 5.1 billion will be allocated to ensure the functioning of schools and specialized sports classes. UAH 524.3 million is allocated for catering for primary school students, and UAH 665.7 million for students of basic and specialized education, including privileged categories.

The implementers of the measures are the Education Department of Mykolaiv City Council and general secondary education institutions of the city. The funding will be provided within the funds allocated in the city budget for the respective years.

Since the beginning of the new school year, more than 4,000 Mykolaiv schoolchildren have been denied free meals, which is about 20% of the students who are eligible for them. The reason for this was parents' dissatisfaction with the small portions and violation of the terms of food delivery: at Mykola Arkas Lyceum, meals were delivered in ordinary plastic buckets instead of in thermo containers, which was captured on photos and videos on social media and caused public outrage.

Анна Бальчінос