In Bryukhovychi, at 19 Lenkavskoho Street, a new building of comprehensive school No. 41 has opened. 370 pupils have started lessons here, in modern classrooms with three sports halls, a conference hall and a large canteen. The opening was announced by Lviv City Council.
The building has been fitted with all the necessary engineering networks: water supply and drainage, heating, electricity, ventilation and sewerage. The facade has been insulated and finished, energy-efficient windows and doors have been installed, part of the grounds has been landscaped and a fence has been put up. An electrical substation and a gas boiler house have been built and connected to serve the school. At the same time, work is under way to equip a new civil defence shelter – a radiation protection shelter.
During the Knowledge Day celebrations, the community of Bryukhovychi was greeted by the Mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi. He stressed that the school was one of the most eagerly awaited educational buildings in the settlement, as previously pupils had studied in cramped rooms in the old building.
“This school has been very eagerly awaited. And today, when the main bulk of the work has already been completed, even the children are saying: ‘Wow, we didn’t expect this!’. The school is very bright, with a pleasant colour scheme, there are as many as three sports halls – for younger and older children, plus a gym. There is an excellent conference hall, separate rooms for clubs, an excellent kitchen unit, a canteen that can accommodate at least 160 children. Good sanitary facilities. At the entrance they are greeted by a safety officer… In other words, all the conditions are in place for children and teachers. Everything here is high quality. We thank the European Investment Bank, which supported this project, and all people of goodwill who contributed… I think everyone who lives in Bryukhovychi is now saying: ‘We’ve got the coolest school'” — Andriy Sadovyi
Pupils and parents note that the new building is much more spacious than the old one. Year 9 pupil Yelyzaveta said that the school now has a large canteen, a full-size sports hall, areas for table tennis and chess, as well as comfortable relaxation zones. Year 5 pupils Yehor and Sasha add that the new classrooms and corridors offer much more space than the previous premises.
Local residents also emphasise that they have been waiting for the new school for decades. Mrs Oksana says she is glad that her grandchildren have the opportunity to study in a modern building, while Mr Volodymyr notes that many children from the settlement previously had to travel to schools in Lviv, so the opening of the new building has made a long-held dream of the community come true.
Three Year 1 classes (over 70 children) are currently studying in the new building, along with lower secondary and upper secondary pupils. Pupils in Years 2–4 are still continuing their lessons in the primary school in the old building, where construction work is still under way. In total, 487 pupils are enrolled at School No. 41 in 20 classes, taught by 39 teachers.
Construction of the new building began a few years ago, but the full-scale war delayed the project. Later it was possible to attract international funding – the works were supported by the European Investment Bank under Ukraine’s recovery programme.
The first lesson for upper secondary pupils in the new premises was given by influencer Misha Pravylnyi and Lviv music artist Honya. They spoke with the pupils about historical memory, the consequences of the prolonged suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture, and the importance of countering such phenomena.
In previous years, the primary school building had already had its fire alarm system refurbished, the junior pupils’ lobby, toilets and fence upgraded. The school has three shelters, fully step-free access to the building and a separate toilet for people with disabilities. Once all works are completed, the total area of the school will be almost 10,000 sq m, and more than 900 children will be able to study here in modern and safe conditions.
A video of the opening of the new building of School No. 41 in Bryukhovychi can be viewed at: https://youtube.com/embed/SG16P9THxP0