Poland has introduced a number of changes for refugees from Ukraine, some of which relate to children and school education. Here's everything you need to know about fines for not attending Polish schools, financial assistance for children and the rules of studying in Ukrainian educational institutions for refugees in Poland

Legal advice on education and employment for Ukrainians abroad

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Polish authorities have introduced amendments to the law on assistance to Ukrainian refugees. Some of the innovations concern the attendance of local schools by refugee children. While previously the Polish authorities did not oblige Ukrainian children to attend local schools, the rules have changed. We will discuss how these changes will affect the obligations of parents and possible consequences for violating the new rules in the article below.

Read about all the new laws in Poland that came into force on July 1 in this article.

School and preschool education for Ukrainian children in Poland

According to Prawo.pl, Deputy Minister of Education Joanna Mucha said that since the beginning of the war, 3 million Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Poland, 43% of whom are children under 17. According to the Ministry of National Education, 75,000 children do not attend local educational institutions. However, 145,000 refugee children are already enrolled in Polish schools, and 34,000 in kindergartens.

Previously, all Ukrainian children could study remotely in Ukrainian schools, but with the adoption of new amendments to the law on refugee assistance, the situation has changed. Starting from September 1, 2024, Ukrainian children who have been granted temporary protection in Poland will be obliged to attend Polish schools.

The introduction of compulsory education for Ukrainian children reflects the Polish government's desire to ensure the proper integration of refugees into local society and to prevent social problems that may arise due to lack of schooling.

New rules for Ukrainian children: compulsory school attendance

According to the information published by the Ministry of National Education of Poland, from September 1, 2024, children of Ukrainian refugees will be obliged to attend school on an equal footing with Polish children. This includes:

– one-year pre-school education;

– compulsory attendance at 8-year primary school;

– compulsory education in post-primary schools in the Polish educational system.

Only graduates who will graduate in the 2024/2025 academic year will be able to continue distance learning in the Ukrainian education system. For the rest of the students, participation in online classes organized by Ukrainian educational institutions should not prevent them from attending a Polish school.

At the same time, home schooling in a Polish school is also available only to a certain category of Ukrainians. As noted by the Ministry of Education, this is partly due to the fact that children from Ukraine have poor knowledge of Polish. According to the explanation, only children and students with multiple developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, who have a certificate of need for special education and are required to attend school or a rehabilitation and educational center, can switch to home schooling.

The Ministry emphasizes that Polish schools are ready to accept Ukrainian children, providing them with the necessary support and safety. The importance of education for refugee children is emphasized not only because of the knowledge they gain, but also as a means of integration into a new society. Without schooling, children may face difficulties in the future, including problems with employment and social adaptation.

Support for Ukrainian children in Polish schools

Ukrainian children will have the opportunity to receive additional Polish language lessons (at least 4 hours per week), as well as the assistance of intercultural assistants who will help them overcome language barriers and adapt to the new educational environment.

In addition, 8th grade students of a Polish school may not take the final exam in Polish if they wish.

At the same time, the Ministry emphasizes that Ukrainian children studying in Polish schools will preserve their national and cultural identity, receiving the necessary support to integrate into Polish society.

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The law on compulsory school education in Poland: fines for its violation and loss of benefits

Education in Poland is compulsory until the age of 18. Failure to fulfill the obligation to attend school is subject to enforcement. A student is considered to be in default if he or she fails to attend half of the school days in a month without a valid reason.

The Ministry of National Education of Poland has published a draft regulation that sets out new obligations for children with temporary protection status in Poland. Failure to fulfill these obligations will result in fines for parents. According to the explanation of the Ministry of National Education of Poland, in case of non-compliance with compulsory school education or training, sanctions in the form of administrative penalties, such as a fine or direct coercion, may be applied.

A one-time fine may not exceed PLN 10,000 (approximately UAH 100,000), and the total amount of multiple fines may not exceed PLN 50,000 (approximately UAH 500,000).

At the same time, the school principal will send a warning to the student's parents or legal representatives before the enforcement proceedings are initiated.

Starting from June 2025, the "800+" benefit (about UAH 8000 per month), which is paid until June 30 a year in advance, will also be lost for violation of compulsory education. This rule will affect those families whose children will not attend school in Poland.

How do I enroll my child in a Polish school?

To enroll your child in a Polish school, you need to submit an application to the school principal. If there are no places at the school, you should contact the governing body. The class is determined on the basis of documents issued by a foreign school or parental declarations on the total number of years of study.

— Detailed instructions and answers to common questions about enrolling a child in a Polish school are available here.
— A template of the declaration on the total length of study of a student in the Ukrainian education system can be downloaded here.

You can get advice on the education of Ukrainians abroad on the Visit Ukraine portal. Our lawyers can answer all your questions about the current rules for admission to certain educational institutions, as well as help with the preparation of documents for admission and study abroad. To order a specialist consultation, please follow this link.

We remind you! Upon returning to Ukraine from abroad, children can continue their education in Ukrainian schools even if they attended educational institutions in other countries instead of distance learning. Read this article to learn how children can resume studying at a Ukrainian school after returning from abroad.

Photo: Freepik

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Ihor Usyk is the Head of Legal Department at Visit Ukraine

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