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In Ukraine, educational rights of indigenous peoples of Ukraine and of persons belonging to national minorities (communities) are now guaranteed. Members of parliament supported the bill to enable opening negotiating clusters for Ukraine's accession to the EU. The vote was "For" by 266 lawmakers.
Ensuring education in the native language for national minorities in Ukraine
According to bill No. 16119 on educational rights of national minorities, in Ukrainian educational institutions instruction will be conducted, among other languages, in the languages of the EU, in addition to Ukrainian. A special status is also provided for schools with more than 50% national minority students and compliance with EU legal requirements. This was reported by 24 Channel.
The corresponding amendments were supported by the Verkhovna Rada at the session of 12 October. Now the enacted law must be urgently signed by the speaker of the parliament and the president.
The project was important for ensuring the rights of national minority representatives living in Ukraine. The changes were urged by representatives of Hungary. After its adoption, the country promises to unblock two negotiating clusters necessary for Ukraine's EU membership, which could not be opened earlier due to a Hungarian veto.
Now children belonging to national minorities and indigenous peoples of Ukraine will be able to receive education in their native language alongside the state language—Ukrainian. This concerns languages that are official in the EU.
In addition, schools with many representatives of national minorities will receive the status of a national minority institution.
Fuel
Average prices at the Amic Energy gas stations as of
What the people’s deputies say about the bill No. 16119
During the Verkhovna Rada session, MP Yuliya Hryshyna spoke in support of the bill. She said that the legal changes were possible after several years of negotiation with Hungary and the approval of compromises from various sides.
Hungary already operates four Ukrainian schools and five branches. And we value the opportunity for our children to preserve their native language and culture. And in a mirror principle we ensure the same right for citizens of Ukraine. And we very much want such schools to exist and operate in all countries of the world,
— said Hryshyna.
MP Larysa Bilozir clarified that the law concerns not only Hungarian but also Romanian national minority.
I want to reassure everyone that Ukrainian remains the state language of the educational process. This bill does not provide for any additional rights for the Russian language. Therefore, colleagues, from today our decision will determine Ukraine's ability to move further toward EU membership,
— she said.
What happened before
Recall that the rules of the bill were previously explained. It stated that in schools and educational institutions, classes and groups could be created where instruction would be in the official languages of EU countries, as well as in the languages of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine.
In such institutions, in addition to Ukrainian language and Ukrainian history, the history of the respective national community would be studied, and its culture would be supported. At parents' request, instruction in the national minority language could be provided as a duplicate.
Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aníta Orbán, stated that voting "for" this bill should enable an intergovernmental conference with Ukraine in Luxembourg. After this, two negotiating clusters will be opened: No. 2 "Internal Market" and No. 3 "Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth."
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "В Україні забезпечили навчання мовами нацменшин: яке рішення ухвалила Рада". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Channel 24.
