Recently, public attention has been increasingly drawn to issues of building and renovation work in schools, a topic reaching far beyond the education process. Absence of professional support, shifting the technical responsibility on managers of non-specialized enterprises, namely, principals of educational facilities, and engaging people who are not properly qualified in repair work create major risks both to safety and effective use of budgetary funds. That is why the issue of professional approach to reconstruction of schools and proper supervision by competent specialists is currently gaining a special relevance.

Thus, Liliia Leshchyk, education ombudsperson, says there are frequent reports in the public space by law-enforcement bodies about criminal proceedings against the educational facilities managers suspected of breaches of legislation during construction or renovation work in schools and shelters.

In most such cases, school principals signed contracts and certificates of completed works by themselves and assumed responsibility for the processes where they are not competent. The ombudsperson underscored that managers of educational facilities are not supposed to have knowledge of construction, supervision, state building norms or price monitoring. Such requirements are not stipulated in any law, particularly, the Law of Ukraine “On education.”

According to Ms. Leshchyk, client of building work in schools are various institutions, including state-run and communal enterprises, departments of regional administrations, and local self-governments. However, it is school principals that are made liable for the organization of work and use of funds, although educational facilities have neither resources nor experts to oversee such processes.

The ombudsperson also says that sometimes, teachers or even parents are involved in repairing or equipping the shelters, which is dangerous for the lives and health of children because these kinds of work should be done by qualified workers only (read more) and gives examples of criminal proceedings. In several regions, they have launched proceedings against principals of educational facilities:

Chernihiv region: a school principal, accountant and director of a construction company are suspected of embezzlement of UAH 1.5 million of budgetary funds through overpricing the materials.

Zhytomyr region: a lyceum principal is found guilty of neglect of duty that resulted in over UAH 200 thousand losses.

According to the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, one of key reasons for ineffective administration of budgetary funds in education is appointing the educational facilities or education authorities to be the clients of construction work, that do not have qualified staff and experience in such projects.

While discussing reconstruction of educational facilities, the education ombudsperson underlines that quality and safety of schools after reconstruction must be the unconditional priority. She notes that every recovery project should envisage not only modern materials and architectural solutions but also strict control by specilists.

ICEG is confident that consulting engineers can play an important role in this process, as they can ensure an appropriate organizational support of building works. Their involvement will allow minimizing the costs, preventing mistakes at the design stage, and significantly speed up delivery of recovery projects. It is such professional approach that makes recovery more efficient and transparent.