Budget 2027: Funding for shelters in schools and universities to be cut by almost half

The draft State Budget of Ukraine for 2027, which the Verkhovna Rada has already reviewed in the first reading, contains risks for the safety of participants in the educational process. According to the document, spending on equipping shelters in educational institutions is planned to be reduced by almost half. This was stated by People's Deputy Yuriy Pavlenko, who drew attention to the fact that a significant number of schools, kindergartens, and universities still lack full-fledged protective structures.

Risks to the safety of children and students

Yuriy Pavlenko emphasised that the reduction in funding could have critical consequences, as children spend the majority of their day in educational institutions. In his words, the situation is vulnerable, especially for younger schoolchildren.

«Кожен, хто стикається з роботою навчальних закладів, розуміє, що більшість із них не мають повноцінних укриттів. При цьому саме там діти, особливо учні 1–3 класів, проводять більшу частину свого часу» (Anyone who is involved in the work of educational institutions understands that most of them do not have full-fledged shelters. At the same time, it is precisely there that children, especially students in grades 1–3, spend the majority of their time), Pavlenko emphasised.

Status of provision with protective structures

Despite the gradual equipping of new shelters, the issue of their accessibility remains relevant. Previously, Oleksandr Koretskyi reported that as of 1 September, 83% of schoolchildren and over 82% of kindergarten children were provided with shelters.

The situation in the higher and professional pre-higher education system is more complex: the indicator of shelter provision in universities and colleges is only 68%. These figures indicate that a significant part of the participants in the educational process still requires access to adequate protective structures.

What the budget draft provides for

Equipping shelters is not just basement renovation, but the creation of a safe space that meets established requirements, has the necessary capacity, and allows people to stay there during air raids. For many institutions, such work requires significant capital investment. Without adequate state funding, communities and institution management will find it more difficult to complete started projects and build new protective structures.

Meanwhile, the 2027 State Budget draft has so far passed only the first reading, so its financial indicators may still change during further consideration in the Verkhovna Rada.

Recall that the Verkhovna Rada supported the draft State Budget of Ukraine for 2027 in the first reading, with expenditures of 7.27 trillion hryvnia. Almost 4.9 trillion of these funds are planned to be allocated to defence and security. The document also provides for salary increases for military personnel, a minimum wage of 9,546 hryvnia, and a forecast dollar rate of 47.1 hryvnia. The final adoption of the budget is expected to take place at the end of November.