More than 11,600 preschool institutions will be open in Ukraine starting September 1, including 1,100 operating in a hybrid format and 1,200 offering remote instruction, according to the Ministry of Education and Science.
“As of September 1, 11,622 preschool education institutions will be operating in Ukraine: 9,301 in-person, 1,111 in a hybrid format, and 1,210 remotely. This year, 712,987 children will begin their education at these institutions. All preschools operating in-person or in a hybrid format have access to shelters,” the ministry’s statement reads.
At the same time, it is noted that there has been significant progress in providing shelters for preschools.
For example, while 56.1% of preschools had shelters in 2022, 83% now have shelters either on their premises or within 100 meters.
The ministry reported that in 2026, for the first time, a state subsidy totaling 1 billion hryvnia is allocated for the construction of shelters in preschool education institutions, of which over 972 million hryvnia has been allocated to 18 projects in nine regions.
“In accordance with the Law ‘On the Use of the English Language in Ukraine’ and the Law ‘On Preschool Education,’ starting September 1, 2026, the study of English in older preschool groups (for children aged 5–6) will become a mandatory component of the educational process in all preschool institutions,” the Ministry of Education noted.
The ministry noted that learning English in preschool is primarily a gentle introduction to the language through play, rather than “lessons” in the traditional sense.
Specifically, for children aged 5–6, the optimal class duration is 20–25 minutes, with a change in activities every 5–7 minutes—this helps maintain the children’s attention and interest.
With support from the European Investment Bank (EIB), Ternopil has completed the energy-efficient modernization of four kindergartens at a cost of approximately EUR5 million and put 17 new Ukrainian-made trolleybuses into service, financed by the EIB to the tune of EUR5.5 million, the financial institution reported.
“Strong municipalities are crucial for Ukraine’s resilience and recovery. In Ternopil, our financing is delivering tangible improvements that make essential services greener, more efficient, and more accessible,” said EIB Vice President Karl Neghammer.
The modernization project covered kindergartens No. 1, No. 14, No. 20, and No. 21, which are attended by more than 1,100 children and employ 250 staff members.
In these facilities, buildings were insulated, windows and doors were replaced, heating and ventilation systems were modernized, energy-efficient lighting was installed, and accessibility was improved. This is expected to reduce energy consumption by at least 20%.
The work was funded under the Ukraine Municipal Infrastructure Development Program (UMIP).
In addition, with EIB support, Ternopil received 17 new trolleybuses manufactured by the Ukrainian company Elektronmash LLC. Their purchase, costing EUR 5.5 million, was funded under the “Urban Public Transport in Ukraine II” (UUPTP II) project.
The new trolleybuses are equipped with low floors, energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems, passenger information systems, GPS, video surveillance, and ramps for passengers with limited mobility.
As previously reported, in late 2024, the Lviv-based “Elektron” Group, after winning the tender, signed a contract with the municipal enterprise “Ternopilelektrotrans” to supply 17 low-floor 12-meter trolleybuses worth EUR5.5 million, manufactured by its subsidiary, “Elektronmash” LLC.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the EIB has provided Ukraine with EUR4.5 billion in financing to support the country’s resilience and modernization.
According to Serbian Economist, the Serbian independent civic organization KROKODIL has announced the launch of a humanitarian campaign to help the Kapitoshka kindergarten in Bucha (Kyiv region), where children are left without heat and hot meals due to prolonged power outages.
According to the organization, 167 children continue to attend the facility regularly because their parents need to work. KROKODIL notes that during blackouts, children are often forced to spend time in unheated and darkened rooms, and during alarms, in basement rooms.
According to a statement on the KROKODIL website, the goal of the campaign is to raise €12,000 by the end of February to purchase a 30 kW electric generator to meet the basic needs of the kindergarten. The organization also called on businesses, institutions, and the media to support the initiative, and on generator manufacturers and importers to consider providing assistance with equipment.
According to the initiative’s partners in Ukraine, an additional fundraiser has been launched for a generator with a target of 200,000 hryvnia.
KROKODIL (Belgrade) was founded in 2009 and operates as an independent, non-partisan public organization in the field of culture and civic initiatives. Since the beginning of the war, the organization has reported on three humanitarian trips to Ukraine: assistance to the Kharkiv Perinatal Center in 2022, support for internally displaced persons and vulnerable groups in the village of Blyznyuky in 2023, and assistance to civilians in Kherson in 2024.
According to KROKODIL, over four years, the organization has conducted 10 fundraising campaigns and raised around €50,000 with the support of more than 750 individual donors.
Details for payments from Serbia:
DINAR ACCOUNT: 170-0030039599000-25 WITH THE NOTE: DONATION FOR KAPITOŠKA KINDERGARTEN. BENEFICIARY: ASSOCIATION KROKODIL, KARAĐORĐEVA 43, 11000 BELGRADE.
Details for payments from abroad:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAYMENTS FROM ABROAD:
ASSOCIATION KROKODIL, KARADJORDJEVA 43/2, 11000 BELGRADE, UNICREDIT BANK SERBIA JSC
EUR IBAN: RS35170003003959900122 SWIFT: BACXRSBG
USD IBAN: RS35170003003959900995 SWIFT: BACXRSBG
PAYPAL: office@krokodil.rs
Details for payments in Ukraine:
Bank: https://send.monobank.ua/jar/5dr5VveVzE (https://send.monobank.ua/jar/5dr5VveVzE)
Card: 4874 1000 2472 1964
In one of the settlements of the Mykolaiv region (Voznesensk district), modern shelters were equipped in a lyceum and a kindergarten with financial support from Serbia. This was part of efforts to protect children and teachers in the context of the military conflict. The shelters are designed for more than 800 lyceum students and more than 90 kindergarten children. The new safe spaces were restored and equipped by the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
The project was funded as part of Serbian humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The shelters are equipped with the necessary conditions for children and staff to stay during air raids. Officials expressed their gratitude to Serbia for its support in a difficult time.
Serbia has already provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine several times. Last year, Belgrade sent several batches of medicines, food, and basic necessities. In addition, Serbia has participated in projects to restore civilian infrastructure and secure humanitarian corridors.
Serbia remains neutral in the military conflict in Ukraine, but continues to support the population of Ukraine through humanitarian initiatives.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/666
Police investigators exposed the scheme of stealing budget funds during the repair work of a kindergarten in one of the cities of Kharkiv region, reports the press service of the Kharkiv regional Prosecutor’s office.
“This scam in 2021 was organized by the mayor of the locality…. Director of the firm (which carried out repairs) and two of his employees … All four perpetrators are reported on suspicion on the fact of seizure of other people’s property by abuse of their official position, committed on a large scale by an organized group (part 5 of article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), and on the fact of official forgery, committed by an organized group (part 3 of article 28, part 1 of article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)”, – stated in the message.
The name of the city is not specified in the message.
According to the investigation, during the execution of works in the reporting documentation were entered false data regarding the cost of used construction materials and the volume of work. In particular, the documents included works that were actually performed by employees of the municipal utility company of the city Council.
Thus, the members of the group managed to seize almost UAH 400 thousand of budget funds.
In Ukrainian kindergartens, almost 85% of employees received vaccinations against COVID-19 coronavirus infection, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Serhiy Shkarlet said.
“According to operational information from the regions, at least one dose of vaccination against COVID-19 has already been received: about 85% of kindergarten workers; almost 92% of employees of specialized educational institutions. […] almost 76% of workers in specialized institutions and almost 62% of kindergarten teachers have already been vaccinated with two doses,” Shkarlet wrote on the telegram channel on Saturday.
The highest rates of vaccination of kindergarten employees were noted in Ternopil region – 97.7%, Kharkiv region – 95.2%, and in Donetsk region – 92.9% of vaccinated.
The most vaccinated employees of specialized institutions are in Kherson region – 99.2%, Zaporizhia – 97.8%, and Cherkasy region – 97.3% of the vaccinated.
The 80% vaccination threshold for kindergarten staff has not yet been reached in eight regions. Employees of specialized institutions are vaccinated for more than 80% in all regions of the country.
