MEN. Almost five hundred schools, kindergartens and facilities without classes, most in the Opole province

“Information provided by education superintendents: as a result of flooding in 4 voivodeships (Lower Silesia, Opole, Lubusz and Silesia), classes were suspended in 495 schools, kindergartens and facilities, of which the most in the Opole voivodeship – 222, in the Lower Silesia voivodeship – 219 and in the Lubusz voivodeship – 52.” – it was written on the profile of the Ministry of Education.

Compared to Tuesday that's over 100 fewer closed educational institutions. The number of closed facilities in the Opole province increased slightly. It decreased in Lower Silesia.

MEN informed that local governments in whose territories flooding damaged schools and educational facilities may apply for additional funds for the reconstruction of school infrastructure from the educational reserve of the general subsidy to support local governments, among others, in removing the effects of random events in the buildings of public schools (facilities) run by local government units.

Support from the reserve applies only to school buildings and educational facilities and does not cover the removal of damage to other facilities, e.g. fences, pavements, playing fields, playgrounds.

The Ministry informed that detailed information on the application procedure is available at: https://www.gov.pl/web/edukacja/kryteria-podzialu-rezerwy-czesci-oswiatowej-subwencji-ogolnej-na-rok-2024.

The announcement also stated that children and students from families affected by the flood can benefit from support available in “Government program for assistance to children and students in the form of a random allowance for educational purposes, assistance to students in the form of educational and therapeutic trips, and assistance to children and students in the form of care classes and therapeutic and educational classes in the years 2022-2024“. It provides for, among other things, an allowance, a therapeutic trip or therapeutic and educational activities.

Contingency allowance of PLN 1,000 may be received by children completing compulsory one-year pre-school preparation and students of all types of schools who study there on a full-time basis.

Students of these schools can also benefit from therapeutic and educational trip. The Ministry noted that the maximum amount of funding for the trip is PLN 1,540 per student. It was stated that it is permissible to combine this form of support with a random allowance – up to a total of PLN 2,540.

Students who do not take advantage of therapeutic and educational trips can also benefit from assistance in the form of: care activities and therapeutic and educational activities. Support for organizing classes amounts to PLN 500 per child or student.

Parents can obtain information on the conditions for receiving assistance at the commune office. They should also submit an application for a trip or classes there. The condition for receiving assistance is to present a document confirming the granting of a special purpose allowance from social assistance in the amount of PLN 6,000.