The mechanism for providing subventions for shelters has been improved and security in schools has been strengthened: implementation of the recommendations of the Accounting Chamber
The individual shortcomings in school shelters identified by the Accounting Chamber have been eliminated, and the conditions for providing subventions to local budgets for the construction of such shelters have been improved. These and other measures have been taken to implement the recommendations of the Accounting Chamber, provided based on the results of the performance audit on the topic of «Civil protection in municipal institutions of general secondary education». The audit covered 2023.
Let us recall that according to the information provided to the Accounting Chamber by the regional and Kyiv city military administrations within the framework of the audit, at the beginning of 2023, 8,117 schools had their own shelters (for 2.3 million students and employees),3,128 did not have their own shelters (for 926.5 thousand),and 946 schools had unsuitable shelters (for 227.9 thousand).
At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MES) did not fully implement an effective mechanism for providing subventions for the arrangement of safe conditions for schools, and local authorities did not adhere to the principles of priority when distributing funds, which led to their inefficient use and loss of opportunities to improve existing shelters. The audit also confirmed the ineffective activities of civil defense entities in schools, although this process was formally organized.
The Ministry of Education and Science and 49 control objects in the regions have currently implemented 24 and begun implementing 47 of the 76 recommendations provided based on the audit results.
In particular, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has amended the Procedure and Conditions for Providing Subsidies from the State Budget to Local Budgets for the Arrangement of Safe Conditions in Institutions Providing General Secondary Education: Requirements have been established for the Use of Subsidies for the Construction of New Shelters Only on the Condition of Attributing Them to Civil Defense Protective Structures. The relevant local government bodies are obliged to complete the implementation of projects launched in the previous period at the expense of local budgets and other sources not prohibited by law.
According to the information of the regional military administrations, in accordance with the recommendations of the Accounting Chamber, in 2024 the implementation of projects to establish safe conditions in schools that were launched in 2023 will continue.
To strengthen security measures in schools, the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated August 2, 2024 No. 866 approved the Methodology for assessing security risks in the education system related to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. In addition, the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated November 1, 2024 No. 1245 approved the Procedure for implementing a pilot project to strengthen the security of the educational environment in general secondary education institutions under the legal regime of martial law. To participate in the implementation of this project, the Ministry of Education and Science has already approved a list of educational institutions proposed by their founders, which includes 441 educational institutions in 21 regions.
Currently, additional safety and security measures have been provided in 402 secondary education institutions in 9 regions of Ukraine, involving 539 police officers.
In the process of implementing the recommendations, special attention was paid to educational activities related to security issues. The Ministry of Education and Science updated the content of such educational programs as "Defense of Ukraine. Standard Level and Profile Level" for grades 10-11, "Fundamentals of Health" for grades 5-9, in particular, the material on mine risk and rules for handling explosive objects was expanded. The Ministry of Education and Science also updated the content of standard educational programs for grades 1-2 and 3-4 in terms of civil defense and handling explosive objects. An additional model curriculum "Safety Workshop. Grades 5-9" has also been developed.
In 2024, the Ministry of Education and Science also began updating approaches to teaching the subject "Defense of Ukraine": it is envisaged to develop students' skills in predicting possible scenarios for the development of dangerous military situations and their consequences based on establishing cause-and-effect relationships, and determining an algorithm for safe behavior in such conditions.
It is worth noting that some educational institutions have already eliminated the shortcomings in the arrangement of shelters identified by the Accounting Chamber. For example, in the Kehychiv Lyceum in the Kharkiv region, proper conditions for staying in a shelter for people with limited mobility have been created, in the Kordon Gymnasium in the Odessa region, a major repair of the basement (the simplest shelter) has been completed, and the Kamianets-Podilskyi Lyceum in the Khmelnytskyi region has been equipped with the necessary number of fire extinguishing equipment, etc.
Some contractors have compensated for the material damage established by the audit, caused as a result of non-performance or poor-quality performance of work on the arrangement of shelters. In the Vinnytsia region, one of the objects of control paid a fine of UAH 1.1 million to the budget for violations in the field of urban development.
Also, law enforcement agencies have initiated a pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings initiated on the grounds of forgery of official documents by officials. Regarding another facility, information has been entered into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations regarding possible unlawful actions of its officials (Khmelnytskyi region).
The Accounting Chamber will continue to monitor the implementation of the recommendations provided and will inform the public about this.