Ukrainian in Polish schools? Here's what's changing and when it starts
Ukrainian language may become the second foreign language in Polish schools (photo: Getty Images)
Poland supports teaching the Ukrainian language in schools as a second foreign language. According to the press service of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Ukrainian students can also access extra classes in certain subjects if needed.
What might change for Ukrainian students in Poland, and when
Last week, during a working visit of the Ukrainian delegation to Warsaw, a meeting took place between:
- Oksen Lisovyi, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine
- Yevhen Kudriavets, First Deputy Minister of Education of Ukraine
- Barbara Nowacka, Minister of National Education of the Republic of Poland
- Vasyl Bondar, Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland
As a result of the meeting, Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science announced that the Polish side supports teaching Ukrainian as a second foreign language in Polish schools.
During the meeting, the Polish side also stated that it would consider allowing Ukrainian to be included among the languages that students can choose for the mandatory 8th-grade exam, which is required to advance to the next level of secondary education.
It was clarified that this issue could be considered within the framework of Poland's planned school education reform for 2026–2027.
Pavlo Levchuk, an associate professor at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences, is developing programs to teach Ukrainian as a second foreign language in Polish schools.
"The Ministry of Education, together with its partners, is working to ensure that Ukrainian children abroad do not lose their connection with Ukraine and have the opportunity to study Ukrainian studies subjects," the ministry emphasized.
When Ukrainian might be taught in Polish schools: conditions
Under current Polish law, schools can introduce Ukrainian language instruction under the following conditions:
- At the initiative of parents, they can submit a request to the school administration (if difficulties arise, citizens are advised to contact the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Poland)
- If there is teaching capacity, a Ukrainian language teacher can be hired
- If a student group is formed
- With the approval of the school principal and the governing body
Support for Ukrainian children in Poland: what schools offer
Finally, the Ministry of Education and Science noted that Polish schools provide various forms of support for Ukrainian students, including:
- Additional free classes in the Polish language
- Extra lessons in specific subjects
- Studies in preparatory departments
- Assistance from a teacher's aide who speaks the child's native language
- Support from an intercultural assistant
We previously reported that Ukrainian parents in Poland could be fined if their children do not attend school.
