Five thousand for school: the state helps, but not everyone and not at once

20 August 20:03

ANALYSIS FROM

The government’s Schoolchildren’s Package program got off to a false start. Not all parents managed to register, and there was a delay in payments – no one has received the money yet, so they have to wait. Although the idea itself is great – to allocate UAH 5 thousand to buy necessary goods for first-graders. What difficulties have parents and businesses faced, and what can be purchased for the allocated amount today, was found out by [Kommersant].

On the eve of September 1, on August 18, Ukraine launched the government program “Schoolchild’s Package”, under which parents of first-graders will be able to receive assistance in the amount of UAH 5 thousand to purchase the necessary school supplies. It is clear that parents of future schoolchildren immediately rushed to register with Diia, but not all of them succeeded.

“Diia” refuses to register

Some faced the fact that the program could not find a child who had already been enrolled in the first grade. That is, the school has not entered his or her data into the general database, although it should have done so long ago. Someone faced the fact that Diia refuses to register parents themselves. Citizens claim that the program allegedly does not accept a paper version of a Ukrainian passport: the platform requires an ID card, either domestic or foreign. Some branches of the Pension Fund, which oversee this children’s program and can also register if something goes wrong with Diia, just shrug their shoulders. They advise you to try again, even though they can take over the process themselves. It’s a complete mess.

And there’s not much time left before the school year starts. Parents are nervous. But even those who have managed to register will receive money on their card ten days after registration.

The Ministry of Education emphasizes that the school register is being filled gradually.

“If you have not received a push notification in Diia, it does not mean that you cannot apply or that there is no information about you – the data will be entered soon. When they appear in the system, it will be displayed in the application, and you will be able to apply for aid. You can also check with the educational institution to see if the child’s data has been entered into the AICOM system and check its correctness. A week after updating the data, try to submit the application again,” the Ministry’s press service reports.

“The money will be transferred to the Diia.Card provided that the child is enrolled in school, his or her data has been entered into AICOM, you have submitted an application and opened a special bank account.

If the family does not use the Diia app, you can apply to the nearest Pension Fund office with a written application for this assistance. The application must specify the bank and account number with a special mode of use.

You can apply for a payment from Diia or the Pension Fund until November 15. The money received must be used within 180 days from the date of crediting to the account. Unused funds are automatically returned to the state budget.

The assistance is provided to the recipient in a non-cash form (credited to a special account – Diia.Card) exclusively for the purchase of school supplies, children’s clothing and footwear. The money can be spent both in physical stores and through online stores registered as legal entities or individual entrepreneurs.

The manager of the stationery store Olivets said [Kommersant]that many parents are already asking if they can buy goods for first-graders. The store assures them that there is no problem. Their KVED – stationery trade – falls under the program. However, they can’t check whether it’s working or not yet, as they haven’t credited anyone with money yet.

Yes, there is little time left until September 1. But today, as in the past, few people buy for the whole year at once. We are in a hot phase of sales, and it will continue in September. We will wait until the money is paid. It can be spent within 180 days from the date of receipt, so I think parents will have time to buy what they need,” says Margarita Sologub.

Stationery for UAH 2000 is a reality

According to the recommendations of the New Ukrainian School, here is a list of stationery for the 1st grade and average prices:

Diary – 40 UAH
Notebooks in a 12-lined box (10 pcs.) – 45 UAH
Notebooks in a slanting line 12 liters (10 pcs.) – 45 UAH
Folder for notebooks – 25 UAH
Thick covers for notebooks (20 pcs.) – 140 UAH
Covers for textbooks (10 pcs.) – 250 UAH
A sharpener – 13 UAH
Blue ballpoint pen (4 pcs.) – 16 UAH
Simple pencils (4 pcs.) – 10 UAH
Eraser – 4 UAH
Ruler 30 cm – 5 UAH
Pencil case – 45 UAH
Orthopedic briefcase – 800 UAH
Album for drawing – 30 UAH
Paints (watercolor, 12 colors) – 50 UAH
Brushes (set) – 25 UAH
Colored pencils (set) – 60 UAH
Markers (set) – 55 UAH
Scissors – 25 UAH
Glue stick – 20 UAH
Colored paper – 30 UAH
Colored cardboard – 35 UAH
Plasticine (set) – 45 UAH

In total, it’s worth UAH 1,843, if we take into account the average cost of each item we have listed. Additionally, in some schools, parents also buy prescriptions and special notebooks. It is unknown whether they will be sold under the program.

Clothes are more expensive

Of course, parents have to spend more money on school clothes. Some schools require a school uniform, plus an embroidered shirt, tracksuit, sneakers, and changeable shoes – these are additional costs of at least UAH 3,000, if we take the average amount.

Sports suit – about 850 UAH
Sneakers – about 650 UAH
School uniforms – about 1,100 UAH per set
School shoes – about 350 UAH
An embroidered shirt – on average 600 UAH

To dress one 6-year-old child, you will need about UAH 3,550. With the savings of UAH 5 thousand, it is quite possible to get a first-grader ready for school.

As a reminder, the “Schoolchild’s Package” is a one-time financial assistance for each first-grader that parents (or legal representatives) of children enrolled in the first grade in educational institutions on the government-controlled territory of Ukraine in the 2025-2026 school year can receive.

Children who are temporarily abroad or in the temporarily occupied territories will be granted the allowance upon their return. After they apply to a Ukrainian school and are enrolled.

We remind you of the procedure:

Submit an application for enrollment of a child in the first grade at an educational institution.
The school enters the data into the AIKOM system – the state register in the field of education.
Apply for payment through the Diia app and choose a bank to open a Diia.Card.

Author – Alla Dunina

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Мандровська Олександра

Editor