Krasnoyarsk considers extending kindergarten hours to 8 PM

In Krasnoyarsk, parents are being asked whether it is necessary to extend the operation of kindergartens by one hour — until 8:00 PM. This was reported by regional deputy Alexei Boikov. The information was confirmed by the press service of the main education department of the city hall to NGS24.RU.

The press service explained that the survey is being conducted on the order of the President of the Russian Federation. The goal is to find out if extended-day groups are needed in kindergartens. In a scan of the education department document posted by Boikov, it is written that extended hours are needed to «overcome negative demographic trends, as well as to enable women to combine motherhood with professional fulfillment.»

It is assumed that the extended-day groups will operate for 13-14 hours, until 8:00 PM. The parent survey is being conducted until January 29. Kindergartens must send the survey results by January 30. Currently, kindergartens work from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

NGS24.RU reader Elena confirmed that such a survey is currently being conducted in their kindergarten. Essentially, there is one question: whether parents have a need for extended hours or not. According to Elena, two mothers spoke in favor.

«They wrote something like in the chat: »Great, otherwise we have to ask neighbors to pick up the child when stuck in traffic and can«t make it by seven, it»s stressful,«» Elena said.

She herself voted against.

«Working parents already don»t see their children on weekdays, and childhood only happens once, we should try to spend more time together,« Elena reflected. »But there are parents who really can«t make it by seven o»clock due to work. I understand them too, situations vary. This is a real opportunity for moms, for example, to go to the gym after work at least a couple of times a week.«