How to Enrol Your Child in School in Poland: Two Options

Since the start of the full-scale war, many Ukrainian families with school-age children have found themselves in Poland. What schooling options are available for pupils? Is it mandatory to enrol in a Polish school?

We explain below.

Studying under the Ukrainian curriculum

Starting a new school year in a foreign country is a challenge for both children and parents. It is very likely that your son or daughter will find it much easier to continue studying under the familiar curriculum of Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science. This option exists — pupils can study:

• under the Ukrainian curriculum at one of the Polish schools (among them — the School "Matyriłnka" named after D. Pavlychko, the Ukrainian Saturday School, the Warsaw Ukrainian School SzkoUA, the First Ukrainian School in Poland, and several others) online at their own school (the one the child attended in Ukraine) — as an external student or through home education;

• as an external student at the International Ukrainian School — this state general secondary education institution was created specifically for Ukrainian citizens living abroad;

• remotely at one of the online schools that are authorised to issue state-recognised educational certificates. Tuition at such schools is usually paid.

Studying under the Polish curriculum

Have you decided to enrol your child in a Polish school? First of all, choose an institution in the Register of Schools and Educational Establishments in Poland. Next, a parent or legal guardian must submit an enrolment application to the school principal. It is advisable to attach documents confirming the child's school attendance in Ukraine. If you do not have them on hand, you will write a statement indicating the total number of years the child has been in school.

We covered schools and kindergartens in Poland in detail in a video. Watch it to get answers to the most common questions.

And remember — even though a change of circumstances is stressful for a child, the support of parents and teachers will help them adapt to the new conditions. Choose the right learning option and move forward — towards knowledge!