Polish schools bracing for 20,000 more Ukrainian students after summer break

The number of Ukrainian students in the Polish education system from the new school year is expected to significantly exceed earlier estimates, according to the daily „Rzeczpospolita”. 

Polish schools are anticipated to accommodate 20,000 more Ukrainian students than previously estimated, with the total expected to reach 80,000, according to recent Ministry of Education data reported by "Rzeczpospolita".

Tima Miroshnichenko

Recent figures from the Ministry of Education suggest that from September, up to 80,000 Ukrainian children will be enrolled, nearly 20,000 more than previously projected in the spring.

The Ministry attributed this updated estimate to new data from the Educational Information System, the 800+ program, the Ukrainian Ministry of Education, and the PESEL database.

Starting from the new school year, all Ukrainian children residing in Poland will be subject to compulsory education. Non-compliance will result in enforcement actions, fines, and, from next year, the loss of the 800+ benefit.

🔴 TYLKO U NAS:
Szkoły muszą zmieścić 80 tys. dzieci z Ukrainyhttps://t.co/8nKEWOwhE8

— Rzeczpospolita (@rzeczpospolita) July 26, 2024

Previously, Ukrainian parents had the option of continuing their children's remote learning from Ukraine.

As a result, after a one-year hiatus, the government is reintroducing the possibility of increasing class sizes for grades I-III in primary schools to accommodate Ukrainian students, allowing classes to have up to 29 students.

Source: IAR/"Rzeczpospolita"

(mp)