By KYIV. May 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Government of Ukraine will not allow the closure of schools in areas densely populated by national minorities, Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, has said.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister’s press service, on May 8, consultations were held on the implementation of legislation to protect the rights of national minorities (communities), in particular, the development of the state targeted national cultural program Unity in Diversity.
It is noted that separately at the meeting, the participants discussed the state of ensuring the educational, informational and cultural rights of national minorities in places of their compact residence.
“I want to emphasize that we are listening and really working to resolve issues that have been the subject of many years of discussions, in particular, regarding the educational process, the languages of national minorities, and the study of the state language in places where national minorities live. This is a long process, but I I’m sure we’re on the right track. I want to emphasize separately that the Ukrainian government will not allow cases of closing existing schools,” Stefanishyna was quoted as saying by the press service.
As reported, from September 1, 2023, the transition period for the implementation of the language article in the law on education for the national minorities of Ukraine, whose languages are the official languages of the European Union, ends.
