The Inspectorate of the Department of Education published ‘The Quality of Education for Children and Young People from Ukraine’ – a composite report on the quality of education for children and young people from Ukraine in Ireland.  

The report found that teaching and learning experiences for the majority of Ukrainian children in school in Ireland are ‘good’ or ‘very good’. 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.  

The report was compiled based on inspections undertaken in 40 primary schools and 38 post-primary schools between September and December 2023. 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. 

The majority (85 per cent) of schools reported that Ukrainian children and young people are following both the Ukrainian curriculum (online) and the Irish curriculum (in school). 

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD said: “Over 18,000 children and young people have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine over the past two years. The department wishes to thank school communities, stakeholders and REALT 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. Two years on, it is timely to review the quality of the education they are receiving and I very much welcome the publication of this report today. 

“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 per cent of the schools inspected. 

“Primary and post-primary schools have warmly welcomed Ukrainian children and young people and their parents into their communities and have made very good efforts to maximise their participation and engagement. Almost of all the schools inspected placed their new Ukrainian pupils in age-appropriate classes. In over 70 per cent 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. 

“It is very positive also to have the recommendations of the report to guide policy-making to support increased participation and engagement of Ukrainian children and young people in schools. These will be particularly important in terms of increasing attendance levels, to ensure that pupils and students can reap the full extent of opportunities presented in our schools and achieve their own potential. The recommendations will be used to further support all schools to provide high-quality, inclusive, learning experiences to meet the needs of all children and young people.” 

Chief Inspector Yvonne Keating said: “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 highlights areas that require further development. The Inspectorate will continue to work with other stakeholders to support the implementation of the report’s recommendations, which are designed to maximise the participation and engagement of children and young people from Ukraine in settings and 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  

• and providing clear information to young people from Ukraine about access to further education and the world of work. 

For more information: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/inspectorate-publications-evaluation-reports-guidelines/#corporate-reports 

Source: Eurydice Unit Ireland