Kyiv Gymnasium Deemed an Emergency Hazard, Classes Suspended

Structural Failings at 'Kyiv Rus' Gymnasium

According to Главком: Authorities in Kyiv have declared the building housing the 'Kyiv Rus' gymnasium a potential emergency hazard, leading to an immediate suspension of classes. The decision was made by the Commission on Technogenic and Ecological Safety after a structural survey revealed critical flaws. Oleksandr Kovtunov, head of the Darnytskyi District State Administration, confirmed the closure.

This incident highlights ongoing challenges with building safety and oversight in Ukraine's education sector. The 'Kyiv Rus' gymnasium first opened in 2013 with the involvement of the then-Education Minister, Dmytro Tabachnyk. A recent inspection by the Scientific Research Institute of Construction Production documented severe issues, including:

• Extensive cracking in the walls;
• Excessive sagging in floor slabs beyond permissible limits;
• Insufficient load-bearing capacity of structural elements;
• Persistent water saturation of the foundation;
• Damage to the pipeline systems.

Experts classified the building's condition as potentially dangerous, citing the systematic nature of these defects. Consequently, the gymnasium's grounds will be cordoned off, all in-person instruction is halted, and students will be transferred to other schools or switched to remote learning for the remainder of the academic year. 'This now poses a potential threat of a man-made emergency. Children's safety is the fundamental priority, so the decisions must be immediate,' emphasized Kovtunov. Officials are also preparing a request for funding to carry out a major renovation of the structure.

A History of Issues at the Gymnasium

This is not the first time the gymnasium has faced serious problems. Just two years after opening, classes had to be suspended due to hazardous conditions. At that time, air quality tests found concentrations of formaldehyde, phenol, and ammonia that were 5-6 times above safe limits. The cause was traced to substandard construction materials, necessitating floor replacement and room decontamination, as noted by Mariana Pietsukh.

Separately, attention has turned to an underground school operating on the premises of a monastery affiliated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP). The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has launched an investigation into potential unlawful activities at the 'Holosiivska Pustyn' monastery, where over 60 children from grades 1 through 9 were being taught. Education Minister Serhii Lisovyi announced checks on schools whose pupils attended this clandestine institution. The UOC-MP stated it was unaware of the school's existence. The monastery's abbot, Archbishop Isakii Vorzelsky, reportedly left Ukraine the day after the media broke the story. The Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language found no violations of language legislation at the underground school.

The situation surrounding the 'Kyiv Rus' gymnasium points to systemic failures in educational infrastructure management. The identified threat to student safety underscores the critical need for prompt action on structural hazards. The relocation of students also demonstrates the ongoing imperative to secure safe learning environments for all children.

The recent suspension of classes at the 'Kyiv Rus' gymnasium raises significant questions about the overall safety of educational institutions in the region. In light of ongoing inspections, it is crucial to consider other findings, such as those from a recent assessment where the Language Ombudsman reported no violations at a school affiliated with the UOC MP monastery. This contrast highlights the varying conditions within different educational facilities. For a deeper understanding of the inspection outcomes and their implications, see more details here.