According to the regulationsin Poland, pupils in 7-8 primary school and all students in advanced schoolthey are bound to learn a second abroad language. While the first language almost always remains English, the choice of the second language depends on the school offer and the initiative of the parents and students themselves.
In early March 2025, the Embassy of Ukraine in Poland made an appeal to the parents of children attending Polish schools to search the anticipation of learning Ukrainian as a second abroad language. We are talking about the achievements of this initiative and the current opportunities and challenges associated with it with Dr. Pawł Lewczuk, a investigator at the Institute of Slavics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, who has been active in promoting Ukrainian language teaching in Poland for years.
A anticipation that has existed for years
As Dr. Lewczuk explains, the anticipation of teaching Ukrainian in Polish schools as a second abroad language has existed formally since 2017. – "The school manager may introduce a fresh abroad language based on parental conclusions. The Act does not contain a closed list of languages that can be offered. A decision of the manager in consultation with the pedagogical board and the host body is crucial" – he says.
Moreover, according to the same law, any individual who does not have Polish citizenship has the right to learn his native language, and the school – after gathering a group of students (usually 7-9 people) – should have a area and essential teaching materials. However, the work of organising and financing teaching (teacher, textbooks, programme) rests with the embassy or social organisation of the nationality concerned.
Practical examples – from Krakow to Wrocław
The first initiatives to teach Ukrainian in Poland have already appeared a fewer years ago. – "In 2017, we introduced Ukrainian language lessons at Primary School No. 151 in Krakow. These lessons work present and are financed by the city” – Dr Lewczuk reports. akin cases occurred in Wrocław, in the vicinity of Olsztyn or in 1 of the schools in Gdańsk.
In March 2025, the Ministry of National Education officially agreed for the first time to teach Ukrainian as a second abroad language – in the 15th General Education School in Wrocław, where as many as 48% of students are Ukrainian-born.
New curricula – in cooperation with teachers
As Dr. Lewczuk emphasizes, 1 of the main challenges was to make a curriculum. – "We have decided to make our own programme based on the European Framework for the Description of Languages (ESOKJ). This includes level A1 for grades 7 to 8 and A2 to A2+ for advanced schools’ explains.
These programmes are to be ready by the summertime of 2025 and made available in the form of open access. Importantly, despite the deficiency of participation of the Ukrainian Ministry of Education in the creation of programmes, their compliance with Ukrainian certification standards remains maintained.
Not just for Ukrainians
Learning Ukrainian does not should be limited to children of Ukrainian origin. – ‘Mixed groups are possible. Teachers can adjust materials to student level, divide the class into smaller groups and individualize teaching’ – says the expert.
In practice, it happens present that Polish students join Ukrainian classes, learning alphabets and basic phrases.
Personnel are – adequate preparation
Are there no Ukrainian teachers in Polish schools? Dr. Lewczuk calms down: – "A individual who has received secondary and higher education in a given language in his country of origin and has pedagogical training can teach that language in Poland. It does not should be a philologist’. He besides adds that many current intercultural assistants could successfully conduct specified activities.
Is Ukraine coming back for the eighth grade exam?
Dr. Lewczuk does not regulation out that the Ukrainian language can come back in the future as an option for the eighth grade exam. – "Everything depends on the students' interest. If there are many, the return of this language to the exam will become real” - I'm convinced.
Importantly, children who have previously learned Ukrainian in another educational systems can pass a state examination of this language.
Dangerous language, endangered identity
A very individual subject besides appears in the conversation. – "I erstwhile got a note from 2 Ukrainian 5th graders – they wrote in Ukrainian but Latin letters. This means that children start forgetting their native language” – this is Dr. Lewczuk. He adds that teaching Ukrainian as a foreigner is not only a form of education, but besides a way to defend the culture and identity of the young generation.
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Ukrainian as a second abroad language in Polish schools? PAN expert: “This is simply a way to preserve the identity of children”
