Mykolaiv's Voznesensk Special School Faces Cramped Dormitories and Lack of Sports Ground

Monitoring at the Voznesensk Special School in Mykolaiv region revealed a number of problems, including cramped dormitories, lack of a sports ground, and shortcomings in the social protection of orphans. The Commission recommended that the regional authorities take measures to improve conditions.

The relevant issue was considered at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Science and Education, Innovation, Youth, Family and Sports, Culture and Spirituality of the Mykolaiv Regional Council.

The meeting discussed the observance of human rights in the field of culture and education under martial law. One of the key issues was the consideration of the report on the results of the monitoring visit to the Voznesensk Special School of the Mykolaiv Regional Council.

The monitoring, which took place on January 30, covered such aspects as the organization of the boarding house, the activities of the psychological service, the medical unit, catering, security, resources and the functioning of classrooms. The inspection analyzed the internal documentation of the institution, including personal files of orphans, contracts, orders and estimates.

The visit revealed a number of problems, including

• Failure to comply with housing standards due to the small size of the bedrooms.
• Lack of privacy in sanitary facilities.
• Lack of a children's sports ground.
• Shortcomings in individual social protection plans for orphans.

According to the commission, the school administration has already taken some measures to eliminate the shortcomings. In particular, partitions in the form of curtains have been installed in the sanitary facilities, and work is underway to organize transportation of students to reduce the overload of the institution. At the same time, additional funding is needed to modernize the sports ground.

Following the meeting, the commission recommended that Mykolaiv ODA take measures to ensure proper living and learning conditions for children. In particular, to consider the possibility of allocating additional funds for the repair of the sports ground, the construction of a temporary shelter, the installation of ramps and the organization of transportation for students. They also emphasized the need to strengthen control over the work of children's services and to update library collections in institutional care facilities.

The responsible services must report to the commission on the implementation of the recommendations by May 7, 2025.

Earlier in Mykolaiv region, conditions in educational institutions that were subject to monitoring inspections were checked. Numerous violations were found in one of the special schools, including the lack of proper toilets, showers and equipped classrooms.

In addition, in Mykolaiv, we checked the living conditions of evacuated children in an art lyceum, where they face inadequate conditions and discrimination. The issue of discrimination arose due to the principle of "friend or foe", which put children in unequal conditions.

Анна Бальчінос