InfoHub Logo

A surge of demand for free swimming lessons in Shymkent has led to parents queuing up from midnight, highlighting a critical need for accessible youth activities. The Youth Palace in Shymkent opened registration for its popular free swimming program, but the limited number of available spots has caused significant frustration among eager parents.

Parental Frustration Mounts

Many parents expressed their long-standing inability to enroll their children in swimming clubs, with some arriving as early as 8:30 AM only to find themselves at position 143 for a 10:00 AM registration start. "If we had the money, we wouldn't face such difficulties. Everyone wants to send their children for free," shared local resident Ulmeken Bimusaeva.

Another resident, Ulzhan Konyssova, voiced her dismay: "People should be sleeping at three in the morning. We came in the morning, but over 200 people had already gathered. This situation needs to be regulated. It happens every time. We are not living in the Middle Ages," she exclaimed.

Administration Explains Capacity Limits

The administration of the Youth Palace stated that registration for the swimming pool is conducted monthly. Currently, only 50 spots are available. These openings arise from children who do not attend classes or have unexcused absences. Therefore, only 50 individuals with complete documentation can be admitted.

Methodology department head Akmaral Zhunusova explained the registration process: "Parents ask why online registration isn't possible. There used to be online registration, but since the platform changed in 2026, parents must come in person. We use the 'Mindal' platform. The pool is not elastic; we cannot accept a thousand children at once. Each group has no more than 15 people, and there are hygiene requirements."

She added that the facility can accommodate up to a thousand children, including over 100 with special needs, with individualized training schedules developed for each child.

This situation highlights the significant unmet demand for affordable extracurricular activities for children in Shymkent. The overwhelming response underscores the importance of such programs and the challenges families face in accessing them.

This is reported by the information agency Infohub.kz.