A six-year-old girl from Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine is the first student to attend a Polish school founded by an immigrant who escaped the Russian-annexed Crimea. She was waiting for social security benefits on the first day of school. She was so scared to start school because she worried other kids wouldn’t accept her, and she didn’t speak Polish. Her fear is understandable, as other students have also questioned whether she should learn Polish at school.
Ukrainian Materynka School founded by a Ukrainian immigrant who fled from Crimea after the Russian annexation.
The Crimean peninsula was briefly a part of Russia. It was subsequently transferred to Ukraine after the annexation by the Russians. Although this transfer occurred sixty years ago, it continues to haunt the Ukrainian people today. In 2004, a Ukrainian immigrant fled Crimea searching for a better life in the USSR. In response, he founded the Ukrainian Materynka School, founded by a former émigré who fled to the USSR and eventually made his way back to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Provisional Principal of Russia in Ukraine to protest the annexation of Crimea. Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has also condemned Russia’s actions, citing “gross violations.” In addition, it has asked the international community to prevent the annexation and recognition of Crimea.
The Materynka School was opened by a Ukrainian immigrant who fled the annexation of Crimea. Valkov’s children, now adults, have escaped the crisis and are safe at the school. Migrants fled Crimea with their families. Plenty of husbands died in the firefight. But, thanks to the immigrant parents who founded the school, students are now in safe places.
Ukraine’s education system is different from other countries, including the USSR. While the from Poland has a highly developed education system, its students routinely outscore Americans in reading, math, and science. However, this education system has suffered since the pandemic, and teachers are often scarce. There were 13,000 teaching vacancies in the country before the war.
About 2 million people have fled Ukraine in the past six weeks of war.
As the conflict escalated, about two million children were displaced. The majority have fled the besieged city of Mariupol. Many have been sent to eastern regions, including the Russian town of Taganrog. Some have stayed behind in their parents’ bunkers. Some have even fled to Hungary, hoping to find a better life. The vast majority of refugees are women and children. Unfortunately, Ukraine has made its policy to protect its border with Russia more than easing the humanitarian situation for the refugees.
Some children in the war zone have been killed.
The number of children displaced is likely to increase, especially in the north. The United Nations has confirmed 142 child deaths, but the actual number is likely much higher. Several attacks have crippled power and water infrastructure in the war-torn country, leaving millions without access to clean water and electricity. Some towns, including Mariupol, have gone weeks without running water, sanitation services, and regular food supplies.
World Vision has also helped by setting up Child-Friendly Spaces to help these children meet their emotional needs. These spaces allow them to play, express worries, and meet other children who have been displaced. Mihaela Nabar, national director of World Vision’s Romania office, said that these spaces help children feel normal and help them cope with the stress and suffering of their situation. This is also an excellent time to learn about their new life in a new country.
UNICEF has estimated that more than two million children have been displaced within Ukraine in the last six weeks. According to the U.N. Office, more than 100 children have died, and 134 were injured in the war. Still, the actual toll is likely much higher. Hundreds of thousands more children and families have fled the conflict zone into neighboring countries. The European Union has offered to accommodate refugees from the conflict zone for three years.
About 3% of humanitarian aid has gone toward schooling
The crisis in Ukraine has put a strain on schools and education systems. Children exposed to war and violence are often traumatized. However, schooling is one of the best ways to protect children from exploitation. Children out of school are more likely to be victims of human trafficking, abuse, and integration into armed groups. A lack of education is not the only symptom of the conflict.
Children in Ukraine have been affected by the conflict since the Russian invasion. While there have been countless reports about the devastation, only a fraction of the aid has gone towards schooling. In Ukraine, the conflict has resulted in massive displacement within the country and refugees moving across the borders. One of the greatest threats to health care is the collapse of medical services. Without adequate supplies, hospitals and clinics will become inoperable.
Among the most pressing needs are protecting human rights and adequate oversight. Most refugees are children and women. Therefore, their needs are exceptionally diverse. The World Health Organization has provided 81 metric tons of supplies and deployed staff to provide more essential health care. As of April 22, the country had received $109 million, about nine percent of the total amount requested. In addition, the Ukraine Crisis Relief Program requires $1.1 billion for humanitarian assistance inside the country.
The conflict in Ukraine has already devastated the lives and well-being of children. More than five million people have fled the country, with almost half of them children. The conflict has also forced millions of people to flee their homes, leaving behind essential infrastructure. As a result, children are especially vulnerable to human trafficking. Further, there has been a steady stream of attacks using explosive weapons against civilians and vital infrastructure.
Polish schools have better education systems than the United States.
While the U.S. education system focuses on improving basic skills and reducing poverty, Polish schools have been making significant improvements for over a decade. For example, the new lower secondary school system introduced a new curriculum that included compulsory courses in science, mathematics, and reading. This change in curriculum helped increase academic standards across the country. And the country has invested in its teachers’ professional development. Among other things, the government has created a Center for Education Development to provide teacher professional development.
The difference between the American school system and Poland’s is quite significant. American students begin school at age 5 or 6, while kids in Poland start school at age seven. Poland’s educational reform recently reduced grade school education from eight years to six. That model is similar to the one used in the USA. As a result, Polish students are typically much better prepared for standardized tests. As a result, the country has a better education system than the U.S.
The education system in Poland is based on the effect of education on children.
Therefore, it is essential to emphasize the importance of problem-solving and group activities to enhance students’ learning. According to Ewa Dudek, Poland’s undersecretary of state for education, the school curriculum emphasizes problem-solving skills and fostering peer feedback. These skills are essential for vocational training but should not be sacrificed for general education.
Poland implemented the “zero tolerance” reform in 2006. It changed the status of teachers from employees to civil servants and increased penalties for violent crimes against teachers. Headteachers can now send aggressive pupils to community service instead of to jail. If they fail to report violent incidents, the parents of the pupils can also be fined. And teachers who fail to report crimes could even face prison sentences. The Polish education system is far more progressive than the U.S.
Conflicts between Ukrainian and Polish students
Warsaw is in the middle of a refugee crisis as Ukrainians and Poles continue to clash at a Polish school. Ukrainians in Poland, who were displaced by the conflict, are trying to adapt to life in a new country. Some say that establishing a school system is essential before the world turns its attention elsewhere. In recent years, only 3% of humanitarian aid goes to education. However, a fund, education Cannot Wait, has been set up to help schools in humanitarian crises, including Ukraine. This is a good start, but some experts worry that refugees will lack language support teachers and psychological help.
Ukrainian students, for example, often have fathers fighting in the war and relatives who have stayed behind. Some are also traumatized by the violence, some of whom have lost their families or friends.
Despite the challenges that schools face, some teachers say they are confident about their ability to deal with the situation. One school in Warsaw, for instance, had been offering bilingual classes before the conflict began. As a result, its enrollment has increased by 10 percent since February.
But there is still a shortfall in staff.
In addition, the new arrivals are not fluent in Polish, so some teachers ask them to translate. Despite the difficulties, many teachers try their best to help the new arrivals learn Polish.
Many European governments have recognized the need to educate refugees and provide assistance for them. Ireland, which hosted 5,000 Ukrainians before the Russian invasion, has already prioritized the registration of Ukrainian teachers to help refugee children adjust to life in a new country. Germany, meanwhile, is considering hiring Ukrainian teachers for its public schools. While Poland is hosting nearly 2 million Ukrainians, it has been trying to adjust its laws to increase class size. The Polish government has even created a hotline for parents and students. About half of its schools have Ukrainian children.
