School fees: Ukrainians urged to refrain from spending

Discussions on the use of electronic diaries in Ukrainian schools are gaining momentum. Parents are complaining about the requirement to pay for access to these services, which has prompted a reaction from the education ombudsman, Nadiya Leshchyk.

The ombudsman stressed that additional fees from parents may be illegal. She noted that financing for electronic diaries should come from local budgets, rather than being borne by families.

“Don’t waste your money! Financing should be carried out at the expense of local budgets. Agreements have been concluded between communities and suppliers of electronic diaries, and payments are already being made. Therefore, it is important to find out on what grounds the additional payment for parents was introduced,” Leshchyk noted.

She also indicated that in the event of violations, communities can terminate contracts with companies that provide electronic diary services, allowing for a transition to state solutions.

Leszczyk recommended that parents and teachers pay attention to the free state service “MRIYA”, which already includes functions for maintaining an electronic diary and journal, thereby avoiding additional costs.

Thus, the situation with electronic diaries can be subjected to more thorough examination, taking into account the legality of the requirements for parents and the responsibility of local authorities for financing such initiatives.

Please note that the process of closing schools and finding alternatives for students is ongoing in Ukraine.