New regulations for Ukrainian schools will come into effect from January 1, 2021

Starting from January 1, 2021, a new health regulation will be introduced in Ukrainian schools, which was warned by Ukraine’s Chief Medical Officer Viktor Lyashko. Details of the new requirements have emerged.

This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Health.

Health regulations establish the following:

• Students living at a distance of more than 2 km from the educational institution receive transportation for transportation to school;
• all school employees are required to undergo mandatory preventive examinations;
• the prohibition of renting school premises that are not for educational needs;
• requirements have been established for the improvement of school grounds;
• allowed for use in educational institutions wired or wireless Internet connection;
• if using a wireless connection, Wi-Fi routers should be placed at a height of at least 2 m from the floor and turned off during extracurricular hours;
• the diagonal of personal computer monitors used in schools should be at least 15 inches, when using laptops – at least 14 inches, while the device should have a keyboard and mouse;
• for the prevention of postural disorders, at least twice a year, students must be transplanted to other rows;
• It is recommended that students who often suffer from colds, rheumatism, sore throats stand in the third row, that is, against the inside wall;
• Educational institutions must have internal sanitary facilities: still one in ten schools in Ukraine has an external toilet.

In addition, changes have been made to the food regulations for schoolchildren. The new requirements are based on the principles of healthy eating recommended by the World Health Organization. In addition, catering is allowed in schools.

The list of foods that are prohibited from sale in school cafeterias and school machines includes:

• chips and crackers,
• popcorn,
• sausages and cold cuts,
• smoked and salted fish,
• some sweets.

At the same time, food groups have been established that should be in the daily school diet of students: cereals, vegetables, fruits and berries, dairy products. The issue of nutrition for children with special needs has also been resolved.

Earlier, the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenskaya signed a Memorandum with the UN to improve the quality of nutrition for Ukrainian children.

It was also reported that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine allowed orphans to live in family shelters until the age of 23.