Protests by Parents of Children from 'Titere' Kindergarten in Front of City Hall

"Where are our children supposed to go on Monday?" With this question, parents of children from the 'Titere' Kindergarten in Arabkir community gathered in front of the City Hall today. As reported by 168.am, the kindergarten is set to undergo major renovations starting May 3.

According to the parents, the doors will be closed for 18 months, leaving more than 160 children without preschool education, and the staff will also face enforced downtime. They had two demands: either provide a space for their children and the kindergarten staff to continue their activities, or place the children in other kindergartens.

In a conversation with reporters, one parent revealed that they learned about this decision on April 27, although discussions about the renovations had taken place earlier. "A year ago, when kindergartens were closed due to the coronavirus, we thought that renovations might happen then, when the entire country was forced to stay home. The decision was made two years ago; there was a program that won, and renovations were supposed to take place, but it did not happen. We have asked repeatedly when it would be, and they said there is no final answer from the City Hall, and when it occurs, we will be informed, but it should not be a problem for the parents; in fact, we should have been pleased that we would return to a renovated kindergarten. But the fact is that on Tuesday, we were informed that from Monday, we will not be able to go to kindergarten, and you can see the situation regarding relocation," said one parent, whose child is five years old and of preschool age.

Another parent added, "On Monday, parents will face the problem of not having a place to leave their children. We know more in advance where we will leave them; we will bring our children to City Hall. They should wait if a solution is not found by Monday."

"I admitted my younger child into the junior group a month ago; why were they accepted at that time? Why didn’t they say that the kindergarten is closing for renovations? We ask you to enroll us in another kindergarten; get us in line for a different place." According to the gathered parents, most of the parents of the kindergarten children, both mother and father, are working, and some are also unregistered workers.

"There are parents who are not registered workers; what are they supposed to do? I have no one to watch my child, my parents are not here, I cannot transfer to a paid system because I'm not able," said one of the parents.