Ministry for Recovery, Infrastructure and Transport: Educational institutions being prepared for stable operation in winter

Generators, autonomous boilers, and backup water supply systems are the foundation for stable operation of educational institutions during emergencies and prolonged outages. Schools, lyceums, and student dormitories must enter the heating season with clear action plans in case of damage to main infrastructure.

These preparations were discussed during the panel “Challenges of the 2026/2027 Academic Year. Readiness for Implementing Senior Profile School Reform,” with Deputy Minister for Recovery, Infrastructure and Transport of Ukraine Kostiantyn Kovalchuk participating.

The meeting with community representatives was organized by the All‑Ukrainian Association of United Territorial Communities with support from the Swiss‑Ukrainian project DECIDE (Decentralisation for Improved Democratic Education).

One of the directions being worked on jointly by the Ministry for Recovery, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Education and Science is equipping schools and dormitories with autonomous boilers. In particular, mobile units are planned, which can be quickly delivered, connected, and restore heating in case of an emergency.

“We must prepare schools for a real winter, not an ideal scenario. If electricity goes out, the generator must start. If the boiler fails, a mobile one must be connected quickly. If water supply problems arise, the community must know exactly how to provide water to the institution. The quality of local preparation will determine whether children can study smoothly in winter,” said Kostiantyn Kovalchuk.

Backup power is needed directly for schools and dormitories, but stable operation depends on the entire community’s infrastructure. If the water utility stops, housing, hospitals, kindergartens, and schools are immediately affected. Currently, water and sewage enterprises are equipped with backup power sources at 75%.

Additional opportunities to strengthen infrastructure come from four state programs: three in water supply and sewage, and one in heating. Their implementation also affects schools, since the availability of heat and water depends on the resilience of the community’s systems.

The state creates programs and provides communities with support tools. Their task is to identify weak points in advance, use available opportunities, and prepare backup solutions before the cold season begins. In winter, there will be no time to search for generators, repair boilers, or solve water problems.