Pupil turns schoolbook book in Kyivska Rus Gymnasium in Kyiv.

© Ukrafoto

Lawmakers made changes to this year's budget on July 17, reducing their salaries and social benefits by Hr 172 million, of which Hr 131 million will be used to purchase schoolbooks for needy children studying in the 4th-7th grades.

A total of 262 members of parliament voted for the bill.

According to the law, the recipients of the schoolbooks will be orphans, children with disabilities, children deprived of parental care, kids of families who receive assistance under the laws on national minorities, and needy families.

“These unfortunate schoolbooks are millions of Ukrainian families,” lawmaker Viktoria Siumar said prior to the vote.

According to legislation, for the law to go into force, the parliamentary speaker must sign the bill in five days, after which, the president has 10 days to sign it.

Kyiv Post staff writer Yuliana Romanyshyn can be reached at romanyshyn@kyivpost.com.