172 kindergartens, schools and universities have been modernized with funds from the OPRG

The country's ambulance centres now have 152 modern ambulances

172 kindergartens, schools and universities, which educate 84 837 children, pupils and students, have been modernised so far with grant funding under the Operational Programme "Regions in Growth" 2014-2020 managed by the Regional Ministry. This is clear from a written reply to MP Petya Avramova, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works.

A total of 449 objects of educational infrastructure - 307 schools, 124 kindergartens, 13 higher schools and 5 united children's complexes in 81 towns - are to be renovated under the 2014-2020 Operational Programme Regions in Growth.  610.8 million BGN will be invested in them.  251 910 pupils will benefit from the renovated facilities.

Of the 172 buildings renovated so far, 47 are schools and 35 are kindergartens.  They are in the 39 largest municipalities in the country and are funded under the first priority axis of the programme - "Sustainable and Integrated Urban Development". They educate a total of 45 630 children.  Under the other priority axes, works have been financed to improve the conditions for childcare or education for 39 207 students, pupils and children in 9 universities, 63 schools and 18 kindergartens, the regional minister added.

160 educational institutions have new equipment after investments under the programme.

Thus, the High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics "Vasil Levski" in Smolyan, the Secondary School "Vasil Levski" in Karlovo and the Vocational School of Forestry "Hristo Botev" in Velingrad already have multifunctional gyms, and the new gym in Karlovo has a tennis court on the roof.

Existing building of the Home for children deprived of parental care "Al.  G. Kojakaphaliyata" has been converted into an innovative school.  A modern facility has been created to conduct better quality education, which supports the process of ICT penetration in schools.  Twenty-five laptops, 24 interactive whiteboards and multimedia projectors, 26 computers and monitors, headphones and microphones, word processing software, spreadsheets and presentations, and colour multifunctional devices have been delivered and installed. On the basis of the implemented equipment, a robotics classroom has been set up, which is unique for the educational infrastructure in the Southeast region.

As a result of the implementation of a project with funding from the Operational Development Programme, the Hristo Botev Primary School in Targovishte has a portable classroom - 30 tablets, 1 teacher laptop and software to manage the portable classroom, a screen with 3D technology, a printer with 3D printing technology, interactive whiteboards.  For the needs of the Vocational School of Agriculture "Khan Asparuh" in the town of Isperih a tractor has been delivered.

In the 39 large municipalities, 20 public buildings have already been renovated under energy efficiency projects, the minister's reply further states.  These are state and municipal administration buildings, 7 district police stations and 25 district fire safety and public protection services, as well as 75 residential buildings. As a result, the annual primary energy consumption of public buildings should be lowered by nearly 12 million kWh/year, and the number of households upgraded to a higher energy class is 1154.  More than 30 km of public transport lines have been built or improved.  Almost 975 thousand inhabitants of these municipalities now benefit from improved undeveloped areas in urban areas or rehabilitated 93 boulevards, streets and pedestrian areas, 13 squares, 4 flyovers, 24 parks and gardens and 8 inter-block spaces and playgrounds.  More than 2,000 people benefit from the rehabilitated 183 social housing units in urban areas and the upgraded 2 social service facilities.

In her reply Petya Avramova reports that another 505 buildings in the country have increased energy efficiency as a result of investments under other priority axes of the OPRG.  Of these, 330 are residential, occupied by over 4020 households. The estimated reduction in annual primary electricity consumption of public buildings is close to 52 million kWh/year.

With funds from the OPRG, the country's emergency medical centres now have 152 modern ambulances.

44 social infrastructure sites in the process of de-institutionalisation for childcare or education of a total of more than 3,034 persons were also supported.

More than 145 kilometres of roads have been rehabilitated under the projects for reconstruction or modernisation of national road infrastructure completed by the end of August.