Zaporizhzhia to open underground schools by September

Ukrainian authorities plan to resume in-person classes for school students in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, opening a series of underground schools in the region by Sept. 1, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said in an interview with Ukrinform news agency on Feb. 16.

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Zaporizhzhia Oblast is partially occupied by Russian troops and suffers from daily enemy shelling, making it unsafe for children to attend schools as usual.

Fedorov noted the example of Kharkiv, where children are already being educated in subterranean shelters. He pointed out that the only obstacle to doing the same in Zaporizhzhia is the "reluctance of officials."

“The task is simple: there are a certain number of schools, some shelters are ready, others need to be created or constructed as underground schools,” said the governor.

Read also: Russia seeks to alter occupied Zaporizhzhya Oblast’s population through mass resettlement scheme

“If Kharkiv could do it, why not Zaporizhzhia? By Sept. 1, there will be underground schools in Zaporizhzhia.”

He reported that there are plans to open approximately 50 schools in March, with more facilities to be added within a month after that.

Read also: Four injured after explosions heard in Zaporizhzhya in Russia’s mass missile attack on Feb. 15

Fedorenko also mentioned that remote classes would continue for those children who have left Zaporizhzhia City.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine