Hesse introduces teaching Ukrainian as a second foreign language.
Ukrainian refugees in Germany struggle with adjusting to the educational system, including the requirement to learn another foreign language in addition to German and English. Hesse aims to be the first state to introduce Ukrainian as a second foreign language in schools, recognizing the importance of retaining their identity and cultural heritage while also fostering competition for future professionals and teachers.
German law requires students attending grammar school to learn a second foreign language (other than their native tongue) to sit the Abitur exam. However, for Ukrainian students, this presents a challenge, leading some to leave grammar school and enroll in secondary school instead due to their inability to fulfill this requirement. While other federal states offer individual language courses in Ukrainian, these are not considered a regular second language option.
This initiative represents "a clear sign of solidarity" with Ukraine, as noted by Hesse's Minister of Education, Manfred Pentz, a CDU member, alongside Armin Schwarz, the Minister of Culture. By providing Ukrainian language education, Hesse hopes to maintain these refugees' connections to their homeland and potentially facilitate their eventual return.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, also lauded the move as a acknowledgment of Ukrainian's status as an essential European language. "'By offering Ukrainian as a second foreign language, the state of Hesse will alleviate the burden on young Ukrainian war refugees in Germany," Makeiev remarked, "[and] set a positive example for other German states to follow."
Approximately 20,000 kids and over 300 teachers have settled in Hesse following their escape from Ukraine. Though English is mandatory from elementary school onward, swift fluency in German is necessary for all lessons. Russian, although a common second language in Ukraine, is deemed unsuitable as the "enemy's language." The current restrictions make it difficult for most refugees to satisfy this condition.
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Despite facing challenges in fulfilling the German law's requirement for a second foreign language, Ukrainian refugees in Hesse are significantly impacted by the attack on Ukraine. This circumstance underscores the need for more accommodating language policies, such as introducing Ukrainian as a second foreign language in schools, to support these students in preserving their cultural identity and academic progress.
In light of the ongoing attack on Ukraine and the subsequent influx of refugees into Hesse, offering Ukrainian as a second foreign language option in schools becomes not only an act of solidarity but also a necessary and forward-thinking strategy to cater to the unique needs of this specific student population.
Source: www.ntv.de
