Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and UNICEF reach 100,000 additional schoolchildren in the Czech Republic with access to education

PRAGUE, 12 November 2024 – The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and UNICEF have reached more than 100,000 additional schoolchildren from Ukraine and host communities in the Czech Republic with access to quality education since the onset of war in Ukraine.

More than 13,000 teachers and school personnel have received training to ensure children from Ukraine and host communities access inclusive education and Czech language lessons through formal and non-formal education. Teachers and school staff have also received training to support schoolchildren’s mental health.

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and UNICEF convened a meeting on Friday 6 November to take stock of the results achieved and discussed remaining challenges for refugee children and those from marginalized groups.

Speakers at the meeting included Government Commissioner for Human Rights Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Education Martina Běťáková, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Youngki Hong, US Ambassador Bijan Sabet and Ukrainian Deputy Ambassador Vitalii Usatyi. The speakers highlighted the need for continued learning and skills building opportunities for Ukraine’s children.

The US Government and the Government of the Republic of Korea have supported the refugee response in the Czech Republic and other refugee hosting countries, helping to ensure access to continued learning for refugee children and youth from Ukraine.

“With the significant influx of refugees into the Czech Republic after the outbreak of the war, the education system faced a significant challenge. Thanks to extensive measures and cooperation with partners, we have managed to provide a safe and inclusive educational environment for Ukrainian children. Education is the key to ensuring that these children do not lose their future and hope for their lives, and we are proud of what we have achieved together," said Mikulas Bek, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports.

“UNICEF’s partnership with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has been instrumental in ensuring quality learning for children from Ukraine. The Czech Republic’s focus on inclusive education for all children has helped children learn and supported their well-being and social cohesion. This is beneficial for all children,” said Yulia Oleinik, Head of UNICEF Refugee Response Office in the Czech Republic.

More than 2,000 Ukrainian and Czech nationals participated in courses provided by the Educational Institute of Central Bohemia and its regional partners to become qualified teaching assistants.

With UNICEF’s support, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports established a helpline for Ukrainian parents and youth and a mobile team to assist the process of inclusion of Ukrainian children into the mainstream classes. During the 2023/24 school year, around one third of schoolchildren transferred from segregated classes to integrated settings or graduated. No new segregated classes were established for first grades or preschool.

The “Do školy společně” campaign implemented through the helpline reached thousands of Ukrainian families with information about the Czech education system and schools.