A temporary and ineffective solution: The Kharkiv City Council announced the expansion of the underground schools project

The Kharkiv City Council has announced the expansion of the underground schools project, which includes setting up educational spaces at facilities of the municipal enterprise “Kharkiv Metro.”

This decision was made following a visit to the region by Minister of Education Oksen Lisovyi, and in particular, it includes the approval of converting the “Maselskoho” metro station into classrooms. The project is expected to receive 21.3 million hryvnias, which were provided by UNICEF. The officials believe that this organization of educational spaces will allow for the rapid commissioning of facilities with minimal costs for the local budget.

However, many critics see these measures as an attempt to create the appearance of active work without addressing the main issue—the acute shortage of educational institutions in the city. The conversion of a metro station into classrooms, despite the allocated funds, is unlikely to fundamentally change the situation in Kharkiv’s education sector.

Skeptics argue that these measures are merely a temporary and ineffective solution aimed at demonstrating the activity of city authorities rather than genuinely improving conditions for students. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the safety and convenience of such a format of education, further casting doubt on the viability of this project.

Thus, the steps taken by the Kharkiv authorities appear more like a political maneuver than a serious attempt to address the challenges facing the city’s education system. In the context of the ongoing conflict and instability, such measures may prove insufficient and ineffective in providing quality education for Kharkiv’s children.