The Ukrainian language will appear in Irish schools

Ukrainian students who will enter the fifth grade in September 2023 will be able to choose the Ukrainian language as an optional subject.

Education Minister Norma Foley made the announcement while addressing the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) this Friday.

The decision to introduce the new subject came after the arrival of thousands of Ukrainians in Ireland after the start of the war in February 2022. To date, 15,000 Ukrainian children are registered here, 5,200 of them study in secondary school.

Also, over the last year, about 100 Ukrainian primary school teachers were admitted to the register of the Pedagogical Council.

Speaking before the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) on Friday, the Minister said: “As a nation, Ireland has stood firmly with the people of Ukraine. It is right that we would do so. It is clear to me that you share this commitment. I see this every time I visit your schools and see how much has been done to welcome Ukrainian pupils to your classrooms and to your communities. For these students, many of whom have had to leave behind parents, grandparents, siblings and other loved ones, school provides an important sense of normality. It is a place where they can escape other concerns, focus on their own learning and make friends. “I wish to sincerely acknowledge and salute the sterling work of ACCS and schools across the country. Thank you for all you have done and all you are doing to provide a place of refuge, security and learning for our Ukrainian students.”

According to the State Exams Commission website, it is commission policy to accede to requests to provide examinations for native speakers in their mother tongue in the case of the national languages of EU countries. Ukraine is not a member of the EU but launched an application shortly after Russia began its invasion of the country.

Source: The Irish Times