Russia’s Schools Pay the Price as Resources Are Poured Into War

Schools are meant to be safe places where children can learn and grow. Parents trust that the walls around their kids are strong enough to protect them.

In Russia, that trust is being tested. Across the country, school buildings are falling apart, sometimes literally.

Collapsing Roofs

In Vladivostok last month, the roof of a school collapsed, injuring a 12-year-old student, reports Digi24.

Days later, part of a building in the Novosibirsk region crumbled over a weekend.

Both schools had passed official inspections before the school year started, according to Meduza.

Schools in Need of Major Repairs

These incidents are not isolated. Over the past two years, at least 31 schools in Russia have suffered collapsed walls, ceilings, or roofs.

All had been declared safe. A data project called “To Be Exact” reported that nearly a quarter of Russian schools needed major structural repairs in 2024.

In regions like Murmansk, Kirov, Karelia, and Kabardino-Balkaria, the share was more than 60 percent.

Buckets as Toilets

The problems go beyond crumbling walls. Many schools lack basic facilities. In the village of Voloma, Karelia, students used a bucket as a toilet for an entire year because the school had no running water.

In Tuva, more than two-thirds of schools had no central heating. In Dagestan and Sakha, large numbers of schools operated without sewage systems.

Nationwide, more than 500 schools were officially labeled unsafe in 2024.

Rural Schools Are Low Priority

Experts say the issue lies in how schools are funded. Most belong to local municipalities, many of which have limited budgets.

Rural schools are in the worst condition. They are often overlooked because officials see them as low priority due to shrinking student numbers.

No Longer a Safe Place

The school in Novosibirsk that collapsed earlier this month had been standing since 1937. It showed visible signs of decay.

Concrete stairs shook. Dust and debris fell from ceilings. Parents complained, but little was done. Authorities promised that a new building would be ready by 2026.

Former school leaders told “7×7” that principals face pressure during inspections. Problems are ignored. Inspectors push them to sign off on reports, warning that if they refuse, someone else will.

For many Russian children, classrooms are no longer safe places to learn. They are crumbling reminders of neglect.

This article is made and published by Anna Hartz, which may have used AI in the preparation