Providing compulsory education for Ukrainian refugee children could cost two million euros this year – BNN

In order to provide education for all Ukrainian refugee children, a total of 2,356,507 euros will be needed from September to December, and 4,316,027 euros in 2025, according to the bill submitted by the Ministry of Education and Science for approval.

LETA has already written that the Ministry of Education and Culture plans to set a mandatory requirement for all Ukrainian refugee children to study preschool education or general basic education in Latvian educational institutions in person from the next school year.

The requirement will apply to children of Ukrainian refugees who have reached the age of compulsory education. According to the estimates of the Ministry of Education and Culture, there are 1,842 students.

Until August 31, the requirements will not be applied to those children who have reached the age of compulsory education, who have been granted temporary protection status until the day when the draft law enters into force.

Ukrainian refugee children will have to start studying in Latvian educational institutions within three months from the moment of applying for temporary protection status.

The bill will not have an additional impact on the state budget this year. It will be implemented within the framework of the approved action plan for providing support to Ukrainian civilians in Latvia, because in the first three months of this year, fewer students were enrolled in general education institutions than planned.

An additional 7,823,158 euros will be needed for 2025, and 4,653,573 euros for 2026 and beyond. The issue of additional necessary funding will be considered by the government, preparing and reviewing the draft law on the medium-term budget framework and on the state budget for the current year.

According to the analysis of civil population data, which was carried out by the Ministry of Education and Culture in cooperation with the Directorate of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 2,354 students do not have an educational institution registered in Latvia. Of these, 512 persons do not apply for education, because the residence permit has been cancelled, will be canceled in the near future or issued for other reasons.

Currently, refugee children from Ukraine, while in Latvia, can choose the most appropriate form of education – face-to-face or distance learning. Many Ukrainian children choose distance learning, but this approach does not provide documented information on whether children are included in the Ukrainian education system.

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