Answering the reporter’s question about the Russian State Duma’s statement condemning Ukraine's law On Education, Hrynevych noted that "the Russian Federation, in general, has different, absolutely strange reactions and positions on how the state of Ukraine is developing."
Read alsoKlimkin deems command of Ukrainian to be matter of national security "We cannot be guided by the position of the aggressor state. For us, the most important thing is the protection of the interests of Ukrainian citizens, regardless of their national origin," the minister said.
She noted that children whose only language of command at school is a language of a national minority tend to perform more poorly in passing their school finals.
Read alsoUkraine’s education minister "disappointed" with Hungary’s will to block Kyiv’s path to EU, says will hold talks with counterpartAs a result, the minister explained, such children have limited access to higher education.
"This also does not allow them to fully integrate into Ukrainian society, occupy relevant positions in civil service and local government. By expanding the opportunities for learning the Ukrainian language and using it as a language of command in other classes, we expand the opportunities for Ukrainian children," Hrynevych said.
Read alsoKyiv working to make citizens of Hungarian origin feel comfortable both in EU, Ukraine - KlimkinAs UNIAN reported earlier, today, September 27, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a statement, which noted that the new Ukrainian law "On Education" contradicts the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, which, among other things, guaranteed Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Russian deputies have also called the adoption of new legislation an act of "ethnocide of the Russian people."
Read alsoKyiv working to make citizens of Hungarian origin feel comfortable both in EU, Ukraine - KlimkinUNIAN memo. September 5, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the new Law "On Education" within the country’s education reform.
According to the law, persons belonging to national minorities of Ukraine are guaranteed the right to study in public education facilities having the language of a respective minority a language of instruction, along with the state language.
Persons who belong to the indigenous peoples, national minorities of Ukraine, who have started to receive general secondary education before September 1, 2018, shall continue to receive such education by September 1, 2020, in accordance with the rules enforced before the new law becomes effective, with a gradual increase in the number of classes taught in Ukrainian.
Read alsoHungary on Ukrainian education law: "This will be painful for Ukraine"Foreign ministries of several countries, including Romania, expressed concern about the language norms of the law on education in respect to representatives of national minorities.
