The first specialized schools for Ukrainian children were opened in the Netherlands. These are temporary schools, they are not an alternative to nieuwkomersscholen (schools for immigrants) and transitional classes, where children who moved from Ukraine during the war went to study. New schools only complement those that already exist and where Ukrainian children have gone.
“You came to the Netherlands fleeing the war, leaving your home and hearth. You want to return to a safe and normal life as quickly as possible. Going back to school and playing with friends is an important part of that. By opening temporary educational institutions in addition to existing schools for new arrivals, we hope that Ukrainian children will be able to study properly again,” said Ms. Wiersma, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education of the Netherlands at the opening of the school in Arnhem ( Minister voor Primair en Voortgezet Onderwijs).
Ukrainian schools are opening where there are not enough places in ordinary and transitional schools for children who have arrived from Ukraine. The first such schools opened in Arnhem, Ederveen and Amstelveen. Similar temporary classes for Ukrainian children are opening in Eindhoven and Hengelo.
Approximately a third of the study time is devoted to learning the Dutch language, another third to psychological support (group classes, sports and work with psychologists) and working through psychological trauma, the remaining time is devoted to classes in subjects, in particular, mathematics and English. Some schoolchildren study online in their Ukrainian schools. Someone is even preparing to take exams remotely. Someone continues to study according to Ukrainian textbooks, which can be downloaded from this link: https://lib.imzo.gov.ua/yelektronn-vers-pdruchnikv/.
Depending on the needs of the students, part of the classes are conducted in Ukrainian. In particular, teachers from Ukraine work in such a school in Arnhem. The participation of Ukrainian teachers in the educational process is being actively discussed, even the issue of accelerated legalization of education diplomas is being considered, so that Ukrainian teachers have the right to teach in Dutch schools. The idea of paired lessons for Ukrainian schoolchildren is being discussed: one teacher is Dutch, the other is from Ukraine. And, of course, in the major cities of the Netherlands there are Sunday Ukrainian schools, which we have already written about.
Temporary schools for Ukrainian children will work at least until the summer. And it in the Netherlands, as you know, comes on June 21.
Source:
Publication Date: 21.04.2022
