Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, more than two million refugees from the affected regions have sought refuge in Poland. While some quickly found employment, others required more time to adapt. The focus has primarily been put on Ukrainian children and their parents, who have been receiving the 800-plus cash benefit, yet their engagement with Polish services has often ended there.

In response, the Ministry of National Education has introduced a new measure: Ukrainian children not enrolled in Polish schools during the 2024/2025 school year will no longer be eligible for the 800-plus benefit.

The GrowSPACE Foundation investigated the readiness of Polish schools to accommodate students from Ukraine. Joanna Mucha, Deputy Minister of National Education, shared her perspective in an interview with Rzecz o Polityce.

"Local government officials have reported individual problematic situations to me. We are aware of where issues may arise and are proposing various solutions in those areas," she stated.

But what is the reality on the ground? According to a report by the GrowSPACE Foundation, "Across Poland, 71 local authorities have planned to employ intercultural assistants before the start of the school year, with an additional ten expected to do so after 1 September. A total of 682 local governments have committed to organising additional Polish language classes, and 331 will provide extra remedial courses. Additionally, 298 local authorities plan to offer enhanced psychological and pedagogical support, while another 73 are set to introduce further integration and intercultural activities."

Dominik Kuc from the GrowSPACE Foundation expressed his views in an interview with Rzeczpospolita: "We are not surprised by these figures. The limited scope of planned support is also unsurprising because, until the first school bell rings, we simply don’t know how many Ukrainian children and young people will actually attend school. Moreover, we have little information about what these children have experienced over the past 2.5 years. Local authorities, headteachers, and teachers are beginning this school year with many uncertainties—this summarises the challenges in supporting Ukrainian children and young people. We don’t know the extent of these children's educational gaps. While I am confident that the level of support will increase, we cannot ignore the significant language and educational barriers."

The GrowSPACE report reveals that as many as 1,391 local authorities are unable to provide additional support for young people from Ukraine. Natalia Panchenko from the Stand with Ukraine Foundation expressed her concerns, stating: "The situation we’ve faced since the beginning of September is truly alarming. Polish schools are now filled with children who have had no prior contact with our educational system, meaning they do not speak Polish. Additionally, they may be joined by children of newly arrived refugees from Ukraine. I am deeply worried about the well-being of these children, many of whom have endured traumatic experiences and require special care and support. Unfortunately, incidents of nationality-based discrimination or bullying still occur in Polish schools, which can be especially distressing for these vulnerable children."

Source: Rzeczpospolita