Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Vasyl Bodnar. Photo: Facebook / Vasyl Bodnar
The Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, called not to turn the discussion about teaching Ukrainian as a second foreign language in schools into a subject of political manipulation. After all, this right is guaranteed by Polish law, and it does not replace Polish or the first foreign language and is only an opportunity for children of Ukrainians and Poles to deepen their knowledge, preserve their identity, and strengthen mutual understanding between peoples.
He reported this on his Facebook page.
In recent weeks, Polish media have featured a growing number of critical remarks about Ukrainians. A key flashpoint has been the introduction of Ukrainian as a second foreign language in Polish schools, which has sparked heated debate.
The ambassador said the proposal to offer Ukrainian as a second foreign language in Polish schools had sparked a strong backlash, with some calling on the government to block it.
As explained by the Embassy of Ukraine, this is not about replacing Polish or the first foreign language, but only about the right of parents to apply to schools with a request to add Ukrainian as a second foreign language.
“I want to emphasize, to prevent any distortions, not instead of Polish, not instead of the first foreign language (the most popular ones are English, German, French, or Spanish), but only as a second foreign language!” the diplomat stressed.
This provision fully complies with current Polish legislation and does not require any changes.
“We want to help our children preserve our identity and facilitate their return home to Ukraine when the security situation allows it. We are for socialization and integration, but it is clear that we are not for assimilation. Most of our refugees are here not of their own free will, but because of the ongoing terrible war.
We are not a threat, not enemies, and we do not take anything from anyone. We are hardworking, grateful, and friendly people for Poland, fighting for their right to exist,” Bodnar emphasized.
Ukrainians in Poland are a law-abiding and economically active part of society. In 2024 alone, they paid PLN 15.1 billion in taxes to the budget, while their social benefits amounted to about PLN 2.8 billion. Currently, Ukrainian citizens create more than 2.7% of Poland’s GDP, which significantly strengthens the country’s economy.
At the same time, children of Ukrainian refugees are legally obliged to attend Polish schools, where education is conducted in Polish. Most have already mastered the country’s language that accepted them during the war.
The ambassador also gave the example of Ukraine, where almost 100,000 students in 577 schools study Polish. For comparison, in 2024, Russian was taught in 2,115 schools in Poland, and over 166 thousand students studied it additionally, even though Russia is an aggressor state and a direct threat to all of Europe.
The ambassador emphasized that Ukrainians are grateful to Poland for its enormous assistance since the beginning of the war and have no intention of interfering in internal affairs.
“Allow the citizens of Ukraine to exercise their right to education, and do not put the Ukrainian language in less favorable conditions than other foreign languages. The Ukrainian language is the language of a significant part of society, which is an undeniable added value for the Polish economy, and at the same time the language of the state that fights for the freedom of all of us, all who profess European values,” concluded the Ambassador of Ukraine.
For reference:
In March, Rubryka reported that Poland’s Ministry of Education and Science said Ukrainian students in Polish schools may study Ukrainian as a second foreign language, allowing them to continue learning their native language and culture.
The ministry noted that Polish law requires pupils to study foreign languages—one beginning in first grade and a second added in seventh grade—meaning Ukrainian may be chosen as the second foreign language from grade seven.
It was previously reported that the Ministry of Education and Science is negotiating with partner countries regarding introducing Ukrainian as a foreign language in their schools.
As Rubryka reported, starting in 2025, Ukrainian students will be included in the list of subjects for final exams in Polish schools. Ukrainian will be one of the foreign languages that students can choose during the exams to obtain a maturity certificate, which is necessary for admission to higher education institutions in Poland.
