Majority of Ukrainian children receiving 'good or very good' education in Ireland

Education Minister Norma Foley said: “It is encouraging to see that inspectors found very good examples in our schools of well-prepared lessons, effective use of resources to support learning and teachers working together to support pupils and students." Picture Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

The majority of Ukrainian young people are receiving a "good" or "very good" standard of education in Ireland.

The Department of Education published a report which shows that more than 18,000 children have arrived here from Ukraine since Russia's invasion began in February 2022.

Some 85% of those who have enrolled in the education system here since then are learning both the Irish curriculum in-person and the Ukrainian curriculum online.

The report inspected 40 primary schools and 38 post-primary schools between September and December 2023. Measures were found to be in place in almost all schools inspected to ensure that Ukrainian children, young people and their parents experienced "a sense of belonging" in their new school community.

Inspections focused on three key areas: 

• the quality of teaching and learning experiences provided for children and young people from Ukraine; 
• how schools supported their inclusion and participation and; 
• their level of participation and engagement in school life.

Education Minister Norma Foley said: "The department wishes to thank school communities, stakeholders and REALT [Regional Education and Language Teams] at a local and national level across the country for their engagement, collaboration and support in accommodating them in our primary and post-primary schools.

“It is encouraging to see that inspectors found very good examples in our schools of well-prepared lessons, effective use of resources to support learning and teachers working together to support pupils and students. Teaching and learning were found to be ‘good’ or ‘very good’ in over 75% of the schools inspected."

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In more than 70% of the schools inspected, all young people from Ukraine in third year and sixth year intended to sit the Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate examinations.

The department's chief inspector Yvonne Keating explained: "This report acknowledges the good-quality teaching and learning experiences that children and young people from Ukraine receive in primary and post-primary schools. It also recognises the inclusive practices in place in many schools."

The report makes a number of recommendations for improving the engagement and participation of children and young people from Ukraine in their education in Ireland. 

These are:

• providing additional support for parents of pre-school children from Ukraine to access Early Learning and Care (ELC) provision;
• improving the attendance levels of children and young people from Ukraine in primary and post-primary schools;
• providing clear information to young people from Ukraine about access to further education and the world of work.