Since the beginning of the full-scale war, all Ukrainian schools have switched to “war rails”. Gradually, educational institutions were equipped with safe shelters. Although the number of places in such shelters may be limited and children have to go to school in several shifts or alternate online classes with face-to-face classes. If the war continues for a long time, bunker schools or underground schools will become the new norm. Recently, the first such institution opened in Kharkiv.
This is the first specially built in Ukraine bunker school. Classrooms are located 6 meters (20 feet) underground to protect students from drones and missiles. This is primary school #155.
At the opening of the school this week, many students wore traditional Ukrainian embroidered dresses.
In order to get to the classrooms, schoolchildren overcome the path down the stairs. There are no windows in the new classrooms, but the rooms are brightly lit and the corridors are painted white and green.
Bombings of Kharkiv have increased in recent weeks. Due to the activation of the Russian troops in this direction, near the border in the Kharkiv region, heavy fighting continues. At this time, most Kharkiv schools have switched to a distance format – children are temporarily studying online.
Currently, 300 students study at the new school, but Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that there are plans to introduce two changes of education. During each of them, there will be 450 children at classes. The capacity of the bunker school allows this.
“Now we need to make sure that both teachers and students get used to the school, and hopefully, from September 1, the institution will work at full capacity,” Teryekhov says.
