Background information

As an increasing amount of Ukrainians are fleeing to Denmark, it has become necessary to create a more flexible system in the municipalities to secure the education of Ukrainian children and young people.

The measure was submitted for urgent consideration in the Danish parliament at the end of May 2022 and was reevaluated in August 2022.

Content of measure

In the beginning of the year 2022 about 2,000 children between the age of 5 and 14 years were attending classes in Danish schools. As a part of the special act, every child and young citizen from Ukraine who has a residence permit will be able to go to school and get special education. This entails that the class sessions which is normally in Danish will be in English instead.

The municipalities can also choose to offer to teach kids in both Ukrainian and English in primary schools, which can take place both virtually and physically. It will be possible to use material from the Ukrainian Ministry of Education, provided that the teaching continues to be in accordance with the official aims of teaching of the primary and lower secondary school. Additionally, the municipalities have increased flexibility in the organisation of the classes that receives Ukrainian children. For example, it will be possible to establish reception classes across municipalities. At the same time, the requirement for language tests for displaced children and young people from Ukraine living in vulnerable housing areas will be waived.

Use of measure

Among the more than 6,200 children and young people from Ukraine aged 6-16 who had residence under the special law at the beginning of January 2023, approximately 5,300 of them were enrolled in primary school. This corresponds to 85% of displaced persons from Ukraine aged 6-16 being enrolled in a primary school. 87% of them attend a public municipal elementary school, while 2% go to a free or private school. A further 2% are enrolled in the special offer for children and young people from Ukraine.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Children (minors) Migrants or refugees Students

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Local / regional government Public employment service	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The Ministry of Children and Education in collaboration with the National association of Municipalities (KL) and other relevant parties such as Dansk Lærerforening (DLF) and Skolelederforeningen have been working on recommendations that can support municipalities in their challenge of integrating Ukrainian children and youth in schools.

Views and reactions

Denmark's Lærerforening has been worried about the flexibility that is given the municipalities, which allow them to decide how children and youth will be integrated in the Danish schools. They are concerned that if the integration is not regulated, the municipalities might lean towards finding a simple and cheap solutions rather than the right solution.

Sources

• 25 April 2022: Ny aftale om modtagelse af fordrevne børn og unge fra Ukraine giver kommunerne mere frihed (www.uvm.dk)
• 10 May 2022: Ukrainske flygtningebørn risikerer at havne i folkeskoler, hvor ingen forstår dem (www.dr.dk)
• 24 February 2023: Ét år efter invasionen: Over 5.000 ukrainske børn undervises i grundskolen (www.uvm.dk)