In the village of Irgeli, Almaty Region, the school year began amid unfinished renovations: eight students complained of feeling unwell, reports infohub.kz.

According to Astana TV, renovation work at the school in Irgeli continued after the start of the academic year. While children were in class, finishing work was underway in the premises, and the air was filled with the smell of paint and dust. As reported, students began complaining of feeling unwell. Eight schoolchildren fell ill, and an ambulance was called.

According to parents, renovation work in the old school building began in late July. Classes started, but the renovation could not be completed. Parents claim that the smell of paint and dust allegedly caused an allergic reaction in the students.

Zhamilya Imanbekova has a child in the fourth grade. A few days after classes began, he developed a cough. The boy had previously been diagnosed with asthma, so his mother immediately had tests done and found that some indicators significantly exceeded the norm.

"My child is allergic to dust. It turns out he was suffocating because of it. When I found out, I ran to the doctors. The doctors confirmed it, saying he has an allergic cough, the child is suffocating, and has shortness of breath. At the moment, he is on a ventilator," says Zhamilya Imanbekova.

Other students also complained of feeling unwell. According to parents, on one of the days, an ambulance was called for eight schoolchildren at once. In addition, it turned out that due to a shortage of classrooms, children are now studying in three shifts, and lesson duration has been reduced to 30 minutes.

"She said she was dizzy, nauseous, had headaches, and a general feeling of weakness. The child is still in the hospital," laments another parent, Aiman Tokusheva.

Parents claim that classes in the old building continued until yesterday. And when families began to raise the alarm and call the authorities, the building was closed. However, the school principal disagrees. According to her, the building has not been used for classes since the beginning of September, and 10th and 11th grade students were transferred to online learning.

"On September 11, eight students felt unwell, after which an ambulance was called. Yesterday, September 14, an ambulance also came to the school. Today, seven of these children came to classes, their condition is satisfactory. The parents themselves refused hospitalization," explained Gulzhakhan Kenizbaeva, principal of the L.N. Tolstoy Secondary School.

The school principal assured that the renovation will be completed by the end of this month. In October, students will be able to return to their usual class schedule. However, parents are now insisting on an inspection of building materials and paints. They also want to find out why children continued to stay in the old building despite the renovation.