A serious problem is unfolding in the Plovdiv village of Benkovski, raising concerns among both parents and local authorities: the compromised structure of the “Elitsa” kindergarten, where dozens of children spend their days. Cracked walls, crumbling plaster and persistent damp are raising questions about the safety and health of the environment in which the children are being cared for.
The kindergarten was built in 1955. Today, the building shows clear structural problems, including cracks and deteriorating plaster. According to experts, this is not simply a cosmetic issue but a serious problem linked to moisture and the high groundwater levels in the area. Some of the damage has been covered with decorative panels, but this does not resolve the underlying problem.
“On the recommendation of the Regional Health Inspectorate, we put up panels because there are huge holes almost everywhere on the walls. We are covering the defects caused by the damp. The plaster is peeling throughout the lower parts of the building. This is also connected to the moisture that the children are breathing,” said Tanya Tsoncheva, director of Elitsa kindergarten.
Parents are deeply worried about the conditions in which their children spend most of the day.
“There are quite a few defects in the building that affect the children, especially their health. Many of them have allergies triggered by mould and damp. My child is still very young and these conditions put their health at risk,” one mother said.
“We are worried because the children spend a large part of their day in the kindergarten. They deserve better conditions,” another parent said.
Despite their concerns, families have few alternatives.
“We live in the village. We are happy with the kindergarten staff. I believe the conditions need to be improved,” parents said.
Maritsa municipality says it has made repeated attempts to resolve the problem, but repairs have not been enough. Mayor Dimitar Ivanov said he has been corresponding with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Finance since 2018.
The building cannot be repaired and a new kindergarten is needed
“We received an assessment from structural engineers that the building is not suitable for strengthening through repairs. A new kindergarten needs to be built. We have identified a plot and currently have a working design. In informal talks with the Ministry of Education and Science, we were advised to select a contractor so that, if there were funds left in the budget, we could receive financing to build a new kindergarten that would meet all European and national requirements. We have also selected a contractor. Our latest request for state funding was submitted in December 2025. So far, we have received no response from the Ministry of Education and Science or the Ministry of Finance,” Ivanov said.
He added that letters had been prepared for the new government.
“We hope that, just as we have declared that children are the number one priority for Maritsa municipality, they will also be the number one priority for the state, and that the government will support the people of Benkovski,” Ivanov said.
Benkovski mayor Todor Bosev said the village is growing rapidly.
“Benkovski is only 8km from Plovdiv. All the plots have been taken up and many new houses are being built. The village is expanding. At present, 56 children attend the kindergarten, while we have around 20 applications from families on the waiting list,” Bosev said.
The building was constructed in 1955 and operated as a seasonal kindergarten until 1972, when it became a full-day facility.
Because of the compromised structure and high groundwater levels, the conditions are poor and the village needs a new kindergarten, the mayor said.
The local community is hoping for a modern, safe building that will provide suitable conditions for children in Benkovski.
Dimitar Ivanov said that if the state does not provide funding, the municipality may have to take on new debt to build the kindergarten.
In its latest letter to the Ministry of Education and Science, Maritsa municipality says the building has shallow foundations, no basement and timber-beam ceilings, all of which contribute to persistent damp, subsidence and deterioration of the plaster.
Despite repairs carried out over the years, the problems have continued to worsen.
The municipality says the conditions are unhealthy and potentially dangerous for children. The kindergarten does not comply with the requirements of Regulation No 3 of the Ministry of Health of 2007: it lacks an isolation room, gymnasium and administrative rooms, while the kitchen does not meet sanitary standards.
The Regional Health Inspectorate in Plovdiv has issued instructions requiring measures to ensure that the building contains premises compliant with the regulation.
More than 50 children aged between two and seven attend Elitsa kindergarten. The municipality says the birth rate in the area has been increasing in recent years.
The absence of a nursery group is also making it harder for young parents to return to work, the municipality says.
