Ilsur Metshin assessed the quality of the overhaul in the kindergarten №203

(KZN.RU, February 15, Alena Miroshnichenko). Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, assessed the overhaul of one of the buildings of the kindergarten №203 in the Novo-Savinovsky district. A special feature of the preschool institution is the only correctional group in Kazan for blind and visually impaired children. After the overhaul, updated sanitary facilities appeared in the correctional group.  Three-dimensional tactile figures were installed in cots, lockers, and other personalized pieces of furniture.

Gulnara Shagimullina, the head of the kindergarten, said that the facade, roof, entrance groups, blind areas, sanitary facilities were repaired in this building, windows, entrance doors and engineering networks were replaced. Additional work was carried out during the overhaul. On the territory of the kindergarten, shade shelters and fences were repaired, asphalt was laid, catering unit equipment was purchased, as well as children's furniture and equipment. Small architectural forms will appear on the walking grounds of the kindergarten in the spring.

“There are 11 groups in the renewed kindergarten, in the near future, their number will increase to 12. We have general developing, wellness and correctional groups”, said G. Shagimullina to the Mayor and thanked for the support.

I. Metshin inspected the groups for children’s activities, bedrooms, locker rooms, catering unit, music and other classes. The Mayor of the city talked with teacher Valentina Agafonova, who spoke about the features of the classes. The teacher knows firsthand about the problems that visually impaired children can face every day. The techniques she uses rely on their own long-term experience of life with visual features. “We have a mixed age group. Children are engaged not only with visual impairments, but also with disorders, for example, of the intellect. Therefore, we try to work in all aspects. In general, our group is similar to everyone else, but with its own specifics”, she said.

After the overhaul, updated sanitary facilities appeared in the correctional group. Three-dimensional tactile shapes are installed on beds, lockers, and other personalized pieces of furniture. V. Agafonova said that thanks to the program “Accessible Environment”, the kindergarten has acquired special equipment for the blind and visually impaired: a relief globe and an oven to create relief images. “We draw something with a marker on the paper, pass through the oven and get a relief image. This device works like a 3D printer”, explained the teacher. She added that all these devices greatly facilitate the work on developing children's orientation skills. The correctional group also works on the socialization of children, preparation for school, and acquaintance with writing materials. “We have a device for writing in Braille, a notebook, a slate device for drawing”, said the teacher.

The Mayor of Kazan expressed the readiness of the city authorities to help the remedial group in acquiring the items and devices necessary for the educational activities. He gave a relevant instruction to Timur Alibaev, the head of the Aviastroitelny and Novo-Savinovsky districts’ administration.

In 2018, the overhaul was carried out in 19 preschool institutions of Kazan. In 2019, 16 kindergartens and 1 school were included in the overhaul program. In addition, 11 kindergartens are currently being built with a design capacity of 2510 children.

Today there are 312 educational institutions of preschool education in Kazan, including 301 kindergartens. Preschool education institutions are visited by more than 71 thousand children.